Charges Filed In 2 Mass Shooting Deaths At NJ House Party

FAIRFIELD TOWNSHIP, NJ — The first murder charges have been filed in connection with a New Jersey mass shooting that left three people dead and injured 11 others in Cumberland County in the spring, authorities announced.

Zedekiah Holmes, 21 of Millville, has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder, one count of first-degree conspiracy to commit murder and four counts of first-degree attempted murder in connection with the shooting at a birthday party that took place at a home in Fairfield Township on May 22, according to the Cumberland County Prosecutor's Office.

Additional charges were also filed against five other people in connection with the shooting, but only Holmes has been charged with murder.

Holmes is accused of shooting Kevin Elliott, 30, and Asia Hester, 25, both of Bridgeton. His sister, 19-year-old Braylin Holmes of Millville, was also killed in the shooting, according to authorities.

Authorities are still searching for the person who shot Braylin Holmes, and Cumberland County Prosecutor Jennifer Webb-McRae pleaded with the public during a news conference on Thursday to come forward with any information, the Courier Post reports.

Holmes was standing next to his sister when the shooting started, nj.com reports. He was shot and fled to a wooded area before receiving a call that his sister had been shot. At that point, he went back to the party and stayed with her before seeking treatment for his wound, according to the report.

Kevin Dawkins, 36 of Bridgeton, was previously charged with attempted murder in the shooting.

• Read more here: Attempted Murder Charge Filed In Mass Shooting At NJ House Party
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Dawkins' step-brother, 39-year-old Darrell Dawkins, has also been charged in connection with the shooting.

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No motive has yet been given for the shootings.

Holmes has also been charged with six counts of second-degree possession of a firearm for an unlawful purpose and one count of second-degree unlawful possession of a handgun.

The following charges were also filed on Thursday:

• Arthur Armstead, 28 of Millville, was charged with third-degree conspiracy to hinder apprehension, third-degree hindering apprehension, fourth-degree obstruction and fourth-degree tampering with evidence; and
• Priscilla Armstead, 46 of Bridgeton; Tasia Coleman, 27 of Bridgeton; Tazshaina Sadler, 28 of Bridgeton; and Aladrienne Milbourne, 31 of Millville, were all charged with various counts of conspiracy to hinder apprehension, hindering apprehension and obstruction.

The hindering apprehension and obstruction charges relate to Arthur Armstead hiding first at his mother’s house and then with his girlfriend in Delaware, NBC 10 reports. Police didn’t say why they were seeking Armstead in the first place.

Larry McRae, 39 of Bridgeton was previously charged with unlawful possession of a handgun. Read more here: Third Arrest Made After Mass Shooting At NJ House Party

Anyone with information in this incident is asked to call the New Jersey State Police Bridgeton Station at 856-451-0101 or submit a tip via the Cumberland County Prosecutor's Office tip website at www.njccpo.org/tips. Anonymous tips are welcome.