14 Indicted In NJ Trooper Shooting In South Jersey

Fourteen people have been indicted in connection with the shooting of a New Jersey State Trooper during a home invasion investigation in South Jersey last year, Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal announced on Monday.

Three of those people have been indicted on charges of first-degree attempted murder and second-degree aggravated assault in the shooting of State Police Detective Richard Hershey, according to authorities.

They are Najzeir “Naz” Hutchings 22, Kareen “Kai” Warner, 20, and Tremaine Hadden, 28, all of Bridgeton. Eleven other people were indicted on various charges.

All three men were previously charged with attempted murder before a state grand jury returned the indictment on Monday. Read more here: Third Man Charged In NJ Trooper Shooting

The three men were part of a caravan that approached the trooper at about 10:30 p.m. on April 25, 2020, as Hershey was investigating a home invasion in Salem County that took place several hours earlier, authorities said.

Authorities said Hutchings and Warner shot at the trooper from one vehicle, and Hadden fired at him from another. The trooper was shot in the leg and seriously injured, according to authorities.

Hershey shot back, and the alleged shooters fled the scene, authorities said. He was then taken to the hospital, where he underwent successful surgery, authorities said. Hershey’s return fire is the subject of a separate use-of-force investigation by the Attorney General’s Office.

“Detective Hershey was courageously responding to a dangerous situation in the midst of the COVID pandemic when he was shot in an ambush,” Grewal said. “I promised at the outset of this investigation to bring all of those responsible to justice. As I said at the time, we won’t tolerate mob violence, and we certainly won’t tolerate an attempt to murder a police officer.”

All three men are charged in the indictment with second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose. They and 19-year-old Colby Opperman, of Bridgeton, are also charged with second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon.

“This indictment is an important step in our efforts to hold all responsible who took part in this violent incident in which Detective Hershey was shot,” said Executive Director Thomas Eicher of the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability. “I commend all of the detectives and attorneys who conducted this investigation and presented this indictment to the state grand jury.”

“The brazen ambush attack of Detective Richard Hershey was a violent assault that put the lives of innocent bystanders in jeopardy. Detective Hershey stood his ground under a barrage of gunfire and his actions undoubtedly prevented this assault from becoming a mass casualty incident,” said Colonel Patrick J. Callahan, Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police. “We never relented in our pursuit to hold these individuals accountable for their cowardly actions. These indictments send a clear message that attempted murder of a police officer will be met with swift justice.”

The shooting took place as Hershey was investigating that took place earlier in the day in which five women broke into a home in the Harding Woods mobile home park on Harding Highway in Pittsgrove, authorities said.

They attacked the woman who lived there and stole her iPhone, according to authorities. The woman suffered a broken rib and lacerated lung, authorities said.

Ashley Acevedo-Diaz 23, of Bridgeton, is charged with third-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and fourth-degree unlawful possession of a weapon. Melissa Romero 23, of Bridgeton, is charged with second-degree conspiracy to unlawfully possess a weapon.

The following people were charged with second-degree conspiracy to commit aggravated assault, and third-degree riot:

• Hutchings;
• Warner;
• Hadden;
• Opperman;
• Acevedo-Diaz;
• Romero;
• Shakeem Waters, 32, of Bridgeton;
• Noel Lazu, 21, of Bridgeton;
• Thomas Nieves, 31, of Bridgeton;
• Markese Rogers, 26, of Pittsgrove;
• Chayana Diaz, 23, of Bridgeton;
• Rovell Mcarthur, 27, of Vineland;
• Aisha Mcarthur, 26, of Vineland; and
• Jenislen Quiles, 21, of Bridgeton.

Hadden is also charged with second-degree possession of a weapon by a convicted felon.

Imari Lazu, 23, of Bridgeton, pleaded guilty on Monday to second-degree conspiracy to commit witness tampering. Under the plea deal, she faces three years in state prison.

First-degree attempted murder carries a sentence of 10 to 20 years in prison, with a period of parole ineligibility equal to 85 percent of the sentence imposed, and a fine of up to $200,000. Second-degree crimes carry a sentence of five to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $150,000. Possession of a weapon as a convicted felon carries a mandatory minimum term of five years without parole. Unlawful possession of a weapon carries a mandatory term of parole ineligibility equal to one-third to one-half of the sentence imposed or 3 ½ years, whichever is greater. Third-degree crimes carry a sentence of three to five years in prison and a fine of up to $15,000, while fourth-degree crimes carry a sentence of up to eighteen months in prison and a fine up to $10,000.

See related:
8 Charged In Home Invasion, NJ Trooper Shooting: Authorities
Second Man Arrested In NJ Trooper Shooting: Authorities