Minutes before the clocks announced the arrival of the New Year, a 16-year-old boy allegedly used a semi-automatic rifle legally registered to a family member to kill his parents, sister, and family friend inside the parent’s home in a coastal city in Southern New Jersey.

The teen, identified by the local media as Scott Kologi, was accused of killing his father, Steven Kologi, 44- who is a veteran; mother, Linda Kologi,42; sister, Brittany Kologi,18; and family friend Mary Schultz,70, who lived in their Long Branch home.

When the police arrived, they found the victims dead on the floor and the teenager lying next to the lifeless bodies with a gun-in-hand.

Were other people hurt?

Thankfully no. The suspect's grandfather and brother were able to make it out of the house unharmed.

The 16-year-old whose name cannot be divulged, because he is still a minor, is currently in police custody and is being held on four counts of murder and illegal possession of weapon for an unlawful purpose.

A concerned neighbor who lives a street from the family, heard gunshots and lights flashing simultaneously at 11 p.m. ET from within the Kologi home and immediately called 911 to report the incident.

She said “Though it was Christmas Eve, when I heard the loud bang, I thought it was fireworks. But then I heard screams and more shots, then I knew something was up so I called 911 immediately.”

Although no final decision has been made, it is believed that the teenager may be prosecuted like an adult because of the gravity of the case.

He is also expected to make his first appearance in court on Tuesday.

Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni addressed the media Monday morning, and said, “We are investigating this and are confident that it’s a domestic incident that’s completely isolated. The Teen has been arrested and the murder weapon has been recovered."

Other killings on New Year's Eve

1.

Four people have been killed in a spate of unrelated stabbings across London on New Year’s Eve amid calls to crack down on knife crime.

2. Just hours into the first day of the New Year, a 31-year-old man has been killed in Barbados.

3. A 12-year-old girl in Tennessee shot and killed another 16-year-old girl with a stolen gun early Sunday.

4. A Brooklyn teenager has confessed to the gruesome killings of her mother, and her mother’s boyfriend on New Year’s Eve.

What a tragic way to start the New Year!

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