Defendants in New Milford Shooting Make First Court Appearance

Three men criminally charged in connection with the shooting death of Alex Bridge in New Milford early Saturday morning made their first court appearance Tuesday.

The three defendants--Byron Sankar, Aaron McMorris and Nicholas Questel, whom authorities charged earlier Tuesday--appeared before Judge Patrick Roma to have their charges read and bail set. According to officials, Sankar purchased the gun used in the shooting from Questel.  

Authorities say Bridge, Sankar, Sankar's wife and McMorris were hanging out in the parking lot of the Milford Estates apartment complex, drinking beer, and possibly smoking pot, when Sankar allegedly took out a .22 caliber handgun he was carrying and "handled the weapon in such a reckless manner that it discharged, striking the victim in the abdomen and resulting in his death," Bergen County Prosecutor John Molinelli said.

Sankar, appearing with his attorney, was charged with aggravated manslaughter, unlawful possession of a handgun, hindering apprehension by hiding evidence, hindering apprehension by giving false information to police and reckless endangerment by leaving an injured person. Bail was set at $1 million with no 10 percent option. He pled not guilty to all charges.

McMorris was charged with giving false information to police and hindering apprehension by giving false information to police. Bail was set at $75,000 with no 10 percent option.

After the defendants left the scene, McMorris called 911 and returned to wait for police, Molinelli said. When questioned by detectives, both McMorris and Sankar gave conflicting accounts of what happened and "took certain actions to impede the investigation," Molinelli said.

Appearing without an attorney, and uncertain if one had been assigned, McMorris pleaded with Roma, "I'm frustrated, I've never been in a predicament like this," he said. "$75,000 and I lost a friend and I'm in jail."

The third defendant, Nicholas Questel, was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm. His bail was set at $75,000 with no 10 percent option. He also did not have an attorney.

Judge Roma entered pleas of not guilty for both McMorris and Questel.

This story was updated at 3:55 p.m.

The shooting took place at the Milford Estates apartment complex and not Brookchester as reported in the Prosecutor's press release.  

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