Cops Eye Suspect In "Good Kids" Shooting

Police are close to making an arrest in the execution-style slayings of three college students, a spokeswoman for Mayor Cory A. Booker said.

The spokeswoman, Lupe Todd, would not say exactly when an announcement might come or how the possible break in the case was made.

It was not clear whether additional suspects might emerge.

In a city accustomed to violence, Saturday's killings touched a nerve.

Four friends, ages 18 to 20, were hanging out in a schoolyard Saturday around 11:30 p.m.

One, 19-year-old Natasha Aeriel survived a wound to her head.

The other three — Aeriel's brother, Terrance Aeriel, 18, Dashon Harvey, 20; and Iofemi Hightower, 20 — were forced to kneel against a wall and were shot fatally at close range.

Authorities have said that robbery appeared to be the motive.

All four victims were planning to attend Delaware State University this fall.

The New York Times reported Natasha Aeriel, who remains hospitalized, was able to help authorities by giving her account of the shootings.

Officials have said that cameras trained on the schoolyard were not much help in the investigation; two of the three were not working.

There is a reward of more than $50,000 in the case.

Authorities have also gone to "America's Most Wanted," among other tactics to try to get witnesses to help.

"I don't believe there were a lot of witnesses, but people who do these things tend to talk," Essex County prosecutor Paula Dow said. "I don't believe they kept silent, and we're hoping anyone with any information, however tangential, will come forward."