17yo TikToker, charged with killing 2 teens, goes live to address ‘misinformation’ while playing video games like nothing happened

A 17-year-old TikToker with nearly 40,000 followers has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder after he allegedly ran over two teenage girls in Cranford, New Jersey. Maria Niotis and Isabella Salas, both 17 years old, were riding an electric bike together when they were hit by a black Jeep Compass on Monday, September 29, 2025, around 5:30 p.m. on Burnside Avenue. Both girls were taken to local hospitals but died from their injuries.

According to local news outlet NJ1015, police arrested the suspect shortly after what happened but did not officially charge him until two days later. Even though the allegations were serious, the teenager went live on YouTube the next day to play MLB The Show with a gaming friend. During the broadcast, he complained about online backlash and even bragged about how much engagement his stream was getting.

During the livestream, the teen called what happened a “tragic accident” while offering condolences to the families of the victims. He claimed there was “misinformation” spreading online and got angry at viewers who sent hostile messages. “Threats against my family won’t be tolerated. You’re opening Pandora’s box by getting family involved,” he said at one point. He then talked about New Jersey’s lack of mental health resources before going back to playing video games like it was just another normal day.

Stalking allegations and what the community is saying

Neighbors told Fox that the teen had allegedly stalked one of the girls for months, often parking outside her home. A friend of the victims said that complaints had been made but “nothing was done.” After the deadly crash, police say the suspect kept driving and dragged one of the girls’ bikes under his Jeep until the vehicle stopped working. The families of Maria and Isabella released a statement calling the accused “a coward of a man” who “had been plotting this attack for months.”

The suspect’s social media has also gotten attention. His TikTok account has a profile picture that looks like the black Jeep used in the crash. His X account has retweets of controversial influencer Andrew Tate from 2023. In an earlier livestream, the 17-year-old bragged about harassing Maria by sending pizzas to her house as revenge because she claimed he had sent her AI deepfakes.

Westfield Police Chief Christopher Battiloro, who was confirmed to be related to the accused, put out a statement saying he is not the teen’s father or part of his immediate family. “I do unequivocally condemn the actions of the accused, and like you, I demand that he face the consequences of his alleged actions in a court of law,” he said. A GoFundMe set up to help the victims’ families has raised nearly $130,000. The investigation is still ongoing, and the suspect’s name has not been released because of his age.