Seven charged in Sept. 20 fatal shooting of Paterson teen

PATERSON, N.J. (AP) Seven people face charges in last month's street shooting death of a 14-year-old girl, who authorities say wasn't the intended target.

Passaic County prosecutors said the slaying of high school freshman Nazerah Bugg, of Paterson, on Sept. 20 was not gang-related.

County Prosecutor Camelia Valdes attributed the shooting to ongoing neighborhood disputes in Paterson's 1st and 4th wards. When there is a shooting in the 4th Ward, authorities watch to see if there is a response in the 1st Ward, Valdes said.

"Today's victim is tomorrow's shooter and vice versa," she said.

Valdes said there were two shootings the day Nazerah was killed, and at least two shooters fired at least 15 times at Nazerah, an aspiring basketball star, and her companions. A 15-year-old girl walking with Nazerah was wounded

Four Paterson men — Shakeem Ricks, 20; Basim Williams and Tyheem Mayfield, both 22; and Nyje Johnson, 19 — have been charged with murder, attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder. In addition, Ricks and Williams face three counts of employing juveniles in a crime; Ricks faces a charge of making terroristic threats; and Johnson faces two weapons charges.

Ricks, Mayfield and Johnson were jailed on $2 million bail, while Williams remained at large Tuesday afternoon. All four could face life sentences if they are convicted. It wasn't clear whether any of the men have retained attorneys.

Two 17-year-old boys and a 16-year-old boy, all of whom live in Paterson, face charges of murder, conspiracy to commit murder and weapons offenses. Prosecutors said all three youths may be tried as adults.

Nazerah's death comes about two months after another Paterson girl, 12-year-old Genesis Rincon, was killed when a stray bullet struck her while she was riding a scooter to a family gathering.

The deaths have many residents calling on local and state leaders to do more to help end the ongoing violence in the city.

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