NJ Homicide Suspect Nabbed 3 Months After Attempted Break-In, Shooting, Prosecutor Says

WARREN COUNTY, NJ — A wanted man has been arrested more than three months after an East Orange man was gunned down in Phillipsburg, the Warren County Prosecutor’s Office announced.

On Thursday, the U.S. Marshal’s Service's NY/NJ Regional Fugitive Task Force located and arrested James R. Dawes, 34, in Newark. Dawes was wanted for the killing of Kevin Clervil, of East Orange, back in June.

On June 2, around 4:30 a.m., a resident called police saying that someone was trying to "forcibly gain entry" into their Phillipsburg home, according to authorities.

Police arrived at the 100 block of Summit Avenue to find a man suffering multiple gunshot wounds outside the residence.

The man, who was later identified as Clervil, was taken to St. Luke’s Hospital Warren Campus, where he was pronounced dead, officials say.

See Related: NJ Man Shot And Killed After 911 Break-In Call

An investigation led police to believe that Dawes was responsible for Clervil’s death.

Dawes is charged with homicide, certain person not to possess a weapon, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and unlawful possession of a weapon.

Officials added that the weapon found on Dawes was a handgun for which he did not have a permit.

He is currently being held in Warren County Correctional Center and is awaiting the state’s motion for pre-trial detention.

If convicted, Dawes faces up to life in prison on the homicide charge alone.