NJ teen aimed his ‘murder’ Jeep at 2 girls while going 70 mph, Cranford cops say

🚨Teen driver charged with murder after e-bike crash kills 2 Cranford High students

🚨Victim’s mother calls her daughter “my sunshine” while community mourns

🚨Suspect cited for driving 70 mph in 25 mph zone, plus multiple violations

CRANFORD — The 17-year-old suspected stalker charged with murdering two teen girls with his Jeep was traveling at least 70 mph when he hit them on their e-bike, according to traffic citations issued against him.

NEW: Accused killer stalker sent pizza & porn: Threatened NJ teen over Charlie Kirk

Public court records show the teen was cited for traveling at 70 mph on Burnside Avenue, which has a posted speed limit of 25 mph, on Sept. 29.

The Garwood teen, who officials have not publicly named yet because of his age, was charged two days later with the first-degree murders of Isabella Salas and Maria Niotis, best friends who attended Cranford High School.

The suspect — a son of a retired cop and the nephew of the Westfield police chief, who lives in the neihgborhood where the homicide happened — was also ticketed for failure to possess an insurance card, registration or driver's license; leaving the scene of an accident involving personal injury; failure to report an accident; failure to show a license or registration during an accident involving death; and making an unsafe lane change.

Traffic citations may be viewed on the state court website regardless of the offender's age.

 ALSO READ: These dogs have less than 6 days to live if they're no adopted

Mourning the life of Maria Niotis

Following a service for victim Maria Niotis, Fouli Niotis called her daughter her best friend and her sunshine. The Cranford High School senior was planning to turn her love of "all things beautiful" into a career in cosmetology.

"Today, I choose not to speak only of grief. I choose to speak of Maria's light. Her life may have been short, but it was powerful. She loved deeply. She gave generously. She dreamed boldly. And to Maria, my sweet girl, I will miss you every single day for the rest of my life,” Fouli Niotis said.

In a joint statement issued earlier in the day to Fox 5 New York, the families called the suspect a “coward” who planned the violence for months. Neighbors have also said the suspect was stalking her and that police did not do enough to protect her.

"Seventeen years old, great girl," her uncle said Thursday night, according to a translation from Spanish by NBC 4 New York. "She was riding her bike with her best friend. They were riding along and then this guy comes and kills them."

 ALSO READ: Restaurant owner hires sex offenders?

Funeral services for both victims

A Mass for Maria is scheduled for Friday at St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church in Union Townshop.

Services for Isabella will be 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at Dooley Funeral Home in Cranford with burial at 11 a.m. Monday at Fairview Cemetery in Westfield.

ALSO READ: Police investigating death of infant at Clifton residence

Report a correction 👈 | 👉 Contact our newsroom