PICTURED: The 18 members of a 'mob' who 'ambushed and tried to kill a New Jersey state police detective when he was investigating a home invasion'
New Jersey authorities announced on Friday that they have arrested a total of 18 people who were allegedly part of a five-car caravan whose members shot and wounded a state trooper who was investigating a home invasion.
Investigators on Friday announced the arrests, though an arrest warrant has been issued for one suspect who remains at large.
The suspects are linked to the April 25 shooting of Detective Richard Hershey of the New Jersey State Police.
Three of those arrested are alleged to have shot Hershey at a mobile home in Pittsgrove Township at around 10.40pm on April 25.
A total of 18 people have been arrested and one suspect remains at large in the investigation of the April 25 shooting of Detective Richard Hershey, 29, of the New Jersey State Police
Last Tuesday, authorities announced the arrest of three men alleged to have shot at Hershey. They were identified as Najzeir 'Naz' Hutchings (left), 21, of Bridgeton, NJ; Kareen 'Kai' Warner Jr (center), 19, of Bridgeton, NJ; Tremaine M. Hadden (right), 27, of Bridgeton, NJ
A fourth defendant, Colby Opperman, 18, of Bridgeton, was arrested and charged with unlawful possession of a weapon
Hershey was called to the area to investigate a home invasion that took place earlier in the day.
When several people drove up to the mobile home in Harding Woods Mobile Home Park, Hershey identified himself as a law enforcement official.
Moments later, he was shot in the leg and seriously wounded, according to authorities.
Hershey returned fire and wounded one of the suspects in the leg.
Hershey, 29, underwent surgery at Cooper University Hospital in Camden. He was released from the hospital earlier this week.
Last Tuesday, New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal and State Police Superintendent Colonel Patrick J. Callahan announced the arrest of three men who allegedly shot at Hershey.
Najzeir ‘Naz’ Hutchings, 21, of Bridgeton; Tremaine M. Hadden, 27, of Bridgeton; and Kareen ‘Kai’ Warner Jr, 19, of Bridgeton were charged with attempted murder, aggravated assault on a police officer, and weapons offenses.
A fourth defendant, Colby Opperman, 18, of Bridgeton, was also arrested and charged with unlawful possession of a weapon.
Hershey was investigating a home invasion that took place at the mobile home hours earlier on April 25.
Hershey was investigating a home invasion that took place at the mobile home hours earlier on April 25. Five women were arrested for assaulting the resident and stealing her iPhone. Two of the women - Iramari Lazu (left), 22, and her mother, Yomari Lazu (right), 43 - are pictured above
The other three women were identified as 32-year-old Jazmin Valentin (left), 39-year-old Maria Betancourt (center) and 52-year-old Mayra Roblero (right)
At approximately 6:15pm, five women allegedly forced entry into the home of a woman who lived in the mobile home park, assaulted her, and stole her iPhone, according to investigators.
The victim suffered a broken rib and lacerated lung.
A day after the home invasion, investigators announced the arrest of the suspects. They were identified as Jazmin Valentin, 32; Yomari Lazu, 43; Iramari Lazu, 22; Mayra Roblero, 52; and Maria Betancourt, 39.
On Friday, authorities announced the arrest of nine more suspects and an arrest warrant for a 10th - bringing the total number of people linked to the shooting and robbery to 19. Two of the suspects - Ashley Diaz-Acevedo (left), 22, and Melissa Romero (right), 22 - are seen above
Authorities identified three additional suspects as Noel Lazu (left), 20; Thomas Nieves III (center); and Shakeem Waters, 31. Waters has a warrant for his arrest
Betancourt is a resident of Vineland, New Jersey. The other four suspects are from Bridgeton.
Callahan said that the victim of the home invasion is an acquaintance of Betancourt.
The five women were charged with first-degree robbery, second-degree aggravated assault, second-degree conspiracy to commit robbery, third-degree burglary, and third-degree conspiracy to commit burglary.
Yomari Lazu and Iramari Lazu were ordered detained pending trial while the other three women were released subject to conditions.
On Friday, law enforcement officials announced the arrest of an additional 9 people who were part of the ‘hostile mob’ that shot Hershey. A tenth suspect, Shakeem Waters, has a warrant for his arrest.
The 10 suspects were identified as Ashley Diaz-Acevedo, 22; Melissa Romero, 22; Noel Lazu, 20; Markese Rogers, 25; Aisha McArthur, 25; Rovell L. McArthur Jr, 26; Jenislen Quiles, 19; Waters, 31; Thomas Nieves III, 30; and Chavana Diaz, 22.
From left: Rovell McArthur Jr, 26; Markese Rogers, 25; and Jenislen Quiles, 19
Two more suspects were identified as Chayana Diaz (left), 22, and Aisha McArthur (right), 25
Aisha McArthur and Rovell L. McArthur Jr are from Vineland. Rogers is a resident of Pittsgrove.
The other seven suspects are from Bridgeton.
They have all been charged with conspiracy to commit aggravated assault and rioting.
The 10 are alleged to have driven to the mobile home in order to attack the resident who was burglarized.
They are alleged to have been armed with at least two handguns, one knife, and one bottle.
‘We are delivering on our promise to hold all perpetrators fully accountable for this cowardly ambush of a New Jersey State Trooper, who was gunned down while courageously investigating a violent crime in the midst of this pandemic,’ said Attorney General Grewal.
‘We will follow every lead in our pursuit of justice in this case. Our police officers put their lives on the line each day to protect us, and we owe it to them to bring the full weight of the law to bear on anyone who would attempt to kill them.’
