The heartbroken brother of a New Jersey teen who allegedly shot and killed his parents, sister and family friend in a New Year’s Eve massacre penned an emotional social media message to honor them Monday.
Steven Kologi Jr.’s younger brother, Scott, a 16-year-old autistic boy, has been accused of opening fire on his relatives while armed with a semi-automatic rifle at his Long Branch home Sunday around 11:45pm.
Police identified the victims as the teen’s parents, Steven Kologi, 44, Linda Kologi, 42, his sister, Brittany, 18, and the elderly woman who lived with the family, Mary Ann Schulz, 70.
A Facebook user shared Steven Jr’s tribute message New Year’s Day. The survived brother urged his follower ‘to give the ones you love an extra kiss or I love you.’
Steven Jr. and his grandfather Adrian were uninjured during horrific shooting.
Scott’s older brother said he had the ‘the greatest parents’ he ‘could ask for’ who made Christmas special for their family every year, although they struggled financially.
Scott Kologi, 16 (center) is accused of shooting his parents Steven and Linda (far right) and his sister Brittany (left). His brother Steven Jr. (second from left) was uninjured in the shooting and penned a heartbreaking tribute to his family Monday
The teenager is accused of shooting dead his parents Steven Kologi, 44, and Linda Kologi, 42, with a semi-automatic rifle in their New Jersey home Sunday night
The teen also allegedly shot dead his 18-year-old sister Brittany. His brother and grandfather were uninjured in the shooting
Mary Ann Schulz, 70, was also killed. She lived at the home and was described by police as a family friend
‘Never once was I without a hot meal or a roof over my head,’ Steven Jr. wrote to his Instagram page.
The heartbroken brother said his sister Brittany was ‘so beautiful and smart.’
He added: ‘I just wish I could tell all of them how much they meant to me and how much I truly loved each and every one of them because I didn’t do that enough.’
Son allegedly gunned down the four just minutes before the clock struck midnight on New Year’s Eve.
Neighbors had confirmed to NJ.com that the boy was autistic and required special assistance. He was cared for by his mom and did not attend regular public school like his two siblings.
Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher Gramiccioni said the rifle used in the shooting was legally registered to a resident of the house.
The gun, described as a Century Arms semi-automatic rifle, was found at the home.
Gramiccioni described the shooting as an isolated domestic incident.
He said the teen was taken into custody without issue after officers responded to the 911 reports of a shooting at 11:43pm.
A motive for the shooting is not yet known.
The 16-year-old accused shooter Scott is shown smiling with cupcakes in a Facebook photo on his 14th birthday
Family friend Mary Ann Schulz (left) was killed in the shooting, while the boy’s grandfather Adrian Kologi (right) was uninjured
The teen will be charged with four counts of murder and a weapons offence stemming from the shooting. He is expected to be charged as an adult.
‘It’s a terribly tragic incident,’ Gramiccioni said Monday.
He said the teen is expected to make an initial court appearance Tuesday.
A shocked family friend, Joe Rios, told the New York Post that the rifle used in the shooting belonged to the father who is a veteran.
He went on to describe the 16-year-old as the ‘nicest kid in the world’.
‘(The boy) came to watch the softball games with Linda and he was always smiling. This is totally out of the blue,’ Rios said of the teen.
‘This is not something I ever thought this young boy would do. I don’t know what happened. He was not a violent kid. He was always smiling.’
Police were called to the home in Long Branch, New Jersey at about 11.45pm on Sunday night where they found the four family members shot dead. Authorities removed the bodies of the victims on Monday
The teen’s 18-year-old sister Brittany (left) was shot dead in the massacre. His brother Steven Jr. (right) survived
Tributes flowed in for the Kologi family, including parents Steven and Linda, as friends and family woke to the news on New Year’s Day
Tributes flowed in for the Kologi family as friends and family woke to the news on New Year’s Day.
‘I’ve known Steve ‘Kujo’ Kologi for decades and I can say this, I’ve never had an argument or disagreement since I’ve known him,’ friend Dave Farmer wrote on Facebook.
‘He was a brother and softball brother in arms. Had your back NO MATTER WHAT! He made playing the game easy and fun as all hell. I have a heavy heart and soul this morning.’
Another friend, Isabella Marie, wrote on Facebook: ‘I love you, Linda and Brittany with my entire heart. You all made up the beat years of my life.
‘I’m so blessed to have had the time I did with your family. Thank you for protecting me from mean boys all the time too. Love you big Steve.’
Scott will be charged with four counts of murder and a weapons offence stemming from the shooting. He is expected to be charged as an adult