Overview
- Police arrested a 19‑year‑old, Jesus Emmanuel Garcia Acosta, and two Lawrence juveniles on Thursday after a probe into the Aug. 31 shooting that injured three young males near Lawrence High School.
- All three defendants pleaded not guilty and were ordered held without bail, with the two minors scheduled for dangerousness hearings on Sept. 29 and Garcia Acosta’s hearing set for Oct. 1.
- The Essex County District Attorney charged each defendant with three counts of armed assault with intent to murder, three counts of assault and battery with a firearm causing serious bodily injury, and gun‑possession counts.
- Cellphone video taken at the scene shows a large crowd and people running as shots rang out, and investigators say shots came from near Lawrence Housing Authority property as police and State Police reviewed video and witness accounts.
- The shooting happened during school dismissal on Aug. 31 and left a 13‑year‑old with serious facial injuries; the case has prompted joint work by local and state law enforcement and could lead to heightened school and housing‑area safety reviews.