NJ Detective Killed In Home Invasion Shot Execution-Style, Report Says

BRIDGETON, NJ — Officials said a New Jersey detective was executed in her own home during a break-in last month, according to a new report said.

Detective Sergeant Monica Mosley was able to fire her service weapon several times before one of the burglars shot her in the back of the head, prosecutors said.

Five people have been charged in connection with Mosley's death: Four with murder and one with trying to cover up evidence. Cape May County First Assistant Prosecutor Saverio Carroccia presented more details about the killing to the court in a hearing Thursday, as NJ.com reported.

The Cape May County Prosecutor's Office is leading the investigation, since Mosley worked for the Cumberland County Prosecutor's Office. State and Bridgeton police are assisting.

According to Carroccia, after a group of masked men broke into Mosley's Bridgeton home on Oct. 15, she was able to grab her service weapon and shoot one of them three times, hitting him in the chest.

Carroccia said that Mosley was also shot three times, as NJ.com reported: Once in the right leg, once in the left wrist/arm, and once in the back of the head.

He pointed out that someone would have had to have been behind her, or else walk behind her, to shoot her in the back of the head.

“Judge, I don’t use this term lightly, but that’s called an execution," he said.

Mosley joined the prosecutor's office in 2006 as a paralegal specialist. She became a county detective three years later. A GoFundMe for her family has raised just over $10,200 as of late Friday morning.

No motive has been disclosed for her killing, and the murder weapon has not yet been recovered.

Five people charged

Byron Thomas, 35, of Paulsboro; Nyshawn Mutcherson, 29, of Vineland; Jarred Brown, 31, of Bridgeton; and Richard B. Hawkins Willis, 32, of Gloucester City all face charges of first-degree murder and murder during the commission of a burglary, as well as second-degree burglary and related offenses.

Cyndia E. Pimentel, 38, of Paulsboro, was charged with hindering, obstruction and tampering with evidence.

Mutcherson, Brown and Willis got together and dressed in dark clothing before driving to Mosley's home on Buckshutem Road in Cumberland County's Bridgeton, authorities said. They broke into Mosley's home and shot her, but Mosley defended herself by shooting Mutcherson in the chest before succumbing to her injuries, according to court documents.

The suspects fled the scene, dropping Mutcherson off at the hospital, authorities said. They traveled in a black Chevrolet Equinox registered to Pimental, according to court documents. But Pimental is not accused of any involvement before or during the shooting.

In the days after, Pimental drove the vehicle to Philadelphia in an effort to conceal evidence, according to court documents. Willis was in the passenger seat.

Authorities did not say Thomas's alleged role in the incident. Patch has requested records from investigators for more information.

With reporting by Patch's Josh Bakan.

Related articles:

• 4th Man Charged With Murder Of South Jersey Detective During Home Invasion
• Timeline, New Details In NJ Detective's Shooting Death Outlined In Court Docs