New attorney subs in for Trenton teen charged with murder
A Trenton teenager accused of fatally shooting another teen during a botched drug deal has a new attorney.
Alberto Lopez, 18, is now represented by defense attorney Mark Fury. He was being represented by public defender Jason Charles Matey.
Lopez was 16 when he allegedly shot 17-year-old Shamere Melvin in the head during a botched robbery in December 2013 on the 300 block of North Clinton Avenue.
Lopez has been transferred from a juvenile detention center in Burlington County to the Mercer County corrections center and is being held on $750,000 bail.
Lopez has pleaded not guilty and has rejected a 30-year state prison sentence for murder.
Prosecutors said they have phone records and Facebook messages tying Lopez to the murder.
Lopez and his cousin reportedly arranged a drug deal that soured.
Lopez denied meeting with Melvin, prosecutors have said. He later acknowledged being in Trenton but implicated a distant cousin for the murder, prosecutors have said.
His next court appearance is set for March.
