A 17-year-old driver charged with murder in the deaths of two teenage girls in New Jersey hosted a 22-minute YouTube livestream a day later, saying there’s “more to the story.”
In the chilling video, viewed by tens of thousands, the teen now identified as Vincent Battiloro, 17, of Garwood talks about the fatal crash.
Maria Niotis and Isabella Salas, both 17, were killed Monday night on Burnside Avenue when police said a vehicle hit them while they were riding an e-bike.
“I wish my sincerest condolences to those two girls lost in that tragic accident, OK,” he said during the livestream. “It is an absolute unfortunate situation and there’s more to the story that you’re not getting. But when the time comes, I will explain it in greater detail.”
The livestream video was posted Tuesday night on the YouTube channel “VinnieBatt118″ after the 17-year-old driver had been released from police custody.
The Union County Prosecutor’s Office charged the driver with two counts of murder on Wednesday, but has declined to name him, as is typical in cases involving those under the age of 18.
Municipal court records made available Thursday with 15 tickets linked to the date, time, location and vehicle involved in the crash identify Battiloro as the driver.
“I’ve been through way too much. I’m a nice kid. I’m 17 years old with a good family by my side. And these allegations that have been ruining everything, is a shame,” he added during the livestream before playing an online video game with another person.
Friends, neighbors and classmates of the two girls killed in the hit-and-run crash said the “VinnieBatt118″ YouTube page is run by Battiloro.
Battiloro’s family has not responded to requests to comment and it is unclear if the teen has retained a lawyer. The Union County Prosecutor’s office declined to provide additional information.
Westfield Police Chief Christopher Battiloro said in a statement Wednesday that the person accused of killing two teenage girls on a bike Monday is related to him, but is not his son or a member of his immediate family.
The police chief is Vincent Battiloro’s uncle, according to family obituaries.
“I want to be clear, as loud and as firm as possible, that in no way do my wife, children or I condone, defend, or excuse the actions that caused this terrible and tragic loss of life,” the police chief said, not naming his relative.
The birthdate listed on the tickets in municipal court records show Battiloro will turn 18 next month.
Some of those who watched the YouTube livestream by “VinnieBatt118″ said they were infuriated by the video.
“I was cursing at him,” said Chris, a 14-year-old who went to middle school with Battiloro. Chris’ family asked that his last name not be used because of his age.
Battiloro seemed annoyed during the livestream that viewers were posting negative comments on YouTube accusing him of killing the girls in Cranford.
“He got pissed. He’s like, ‘I don’t need any negativity in my life,’” said Chris, who watched the livestream as it happened.
Profile photos from TikTok and XBox Live accounts linked to Battiloro’s name seem to show the same black Jeep Battiloro is accused of driving on Monday night.
Police said a 17-year-old driver was behind the wheel of a black Jeep when he intentionally hit two girls on an e-bike.
The girls were struck on Burnside Avenue shortly before 5:30 p.m. Monday. Both were airlifted to area hospitals and later pronounced dead.
Friends and family members said the teen driver had been stalking Maria and police were aware of the issues she was having with him. Authorities have not commented on those claims.
In the YouTube livestream video on Tuesday, Battiloro talked casually about being a gamer and drawing a following of nearly 40,000 followers on TikTok in addition to his YouTube site.
But in parts of the 22-minute livestream he also addressed his followers about what he called “the allegations.”
“I’ve been bullied, ridiculed, and stuff over false allegations, OK, over this whole thing about things that have happened in the past,” the 17-year-old said on the livestream.
He also made comments about the need for improved mental health care in New Jersey, though he didn’t specify if he was referring to his own mental health.
He later said he had been put through an “absolutely absurd” amount of bullying.
“I don’t plan to go anywhere anytime soon, regarding streaming. But again, if I do end up taking a hiatus, I’m telling you guys why,” he said.
At one point he acknowledged he didn’t think he should be talking publicly.
“I really don’t even know if I should be streaming this right now,” he said.
“I’m not going to talk about it anymore on the advice of loved ones and others,” he later added, promising to provide more details during future planned streams.
Most of Battiloro‘s social media presence revolved around professional baseball and “MLB: The Show,” a baseball video game. He called the baseball video game his “safe spot.”
Battiloro briefly attended Arthur L. Johnson High School in Clark, a classmate said. In his livestream, Battiloro talked about starting at a new school soon.
Isabella’s father told NJ Advance Media on Wednesday that his daughter did not know the person accused of hitting the two girls.
He said that Maria’s mother told him just after the crash that her daughter had been dealing with issues with the driver accused of hitting them.
In a statement released Wednesday night, the families of the two girls said the driver who hit them is a “coward.”
“It is now vital that the truth be shared: this was not an e-bike accident, and it was not a hit-and-run,” the statement said. “This was murder in the first degree.”
The families’ statement said the driver was plotting the attack against Maria for months.
“He is not insane, he is competent and medicated,” the statement added.
A friend of both girls, Kelly Tretola of Sayreville, said she was aware of serious issues between Maria and an ex-boyfriend.
Maria’s ex-boyfriend had sent threatening messages to a boy she dated after him, Tretola told NJ Advance Media.
In screenshots shared with NJ Advance Media, one of the teens told the ex-boyfriend “the school already told you to stop harassing her.”
Visitation for Maria will be held Thursday night with a funeral service scheduled for Friday, both at St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church in Union.
Visitation for Isabella will take place Saturday at Dooley Funeral Home in Cranford with a graveside service scheduled for Monday at Fairview Cemetery in Westfield.
Staff writer Susan K. Livio contributed to this report.