NY Jets Player's Brother Charged In Bridgewater Fatal Shooting

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — A Linden man, who was charged in connection with the fatal shooting in Bridgewater on Saturday night, is the brother of NFL former New York Jets player Muhammad Wilkerson, according to Linden Mayor Derek Armstead.

Hafeez A. Brown, 33, of Exeter Road, Linden was charged with murder in the shooting of Roobino Philemon 30, of Kling Street, West Orange on the eve of Father's Day in the township.

Brown is the older brother of Wilkerson and starred in football and basketball at Linden High School, according to Armstead.

On Saturday night Philemon along with another person tried to get into a birthday being held at a home on Bayberry Road in Bridgewater. When they got to the front door, the homeowner told them they were not welcomed to the party, Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson said.

Philemon and the other person got into a vehicle to leave and while stopping on Foothill Road near the intersection of Bayberry Road the homeowner walked up to the vehicle and told Philemon, who was driving, to leave, Robertson said.

Brown also walked up towards the back of the vehicle and shot multiple rounds in the direction of the vehicle, hitting Philemon once, Robertson said.

Philemon, who was driving, went down Foothill Road and told his front seat passenger that he had been shot. They stopped the vehicle on Foothill Road so the front seat passenger could drive while Philemon was placed in the back seat. The driver then drove away while calling 911 around 11:50 p.m., Robertson said.

While trying to drive Philemon to the hospital the driver saw police on Route 22 East near Grove Street where he stopped the vehicle. Bridgewater and Somerville Officers performed life-saving measures before Philemon was taken to an area trauma center. He was later pronounced dead, Robertson said.

When Bridgewater Police went to the home on Bayberry Road numerous people were seen leaving with some still inside, Robertson said.

Police set up a perimeter around the home and issued a shelter-in-place for surrounding residents.

New Jersey State Police Troopers from the Somerville Barracks, the Somerset County SWAT team and the County Crisis Negotiators arrived and spoke with three men and two women. Two of the men were later identified as Brown and George A. Bease, 32, of Bayberry Road in Bridgewater.

A search of the home found a substantial quantity of marijuana along with two guns and ammunition.

Brown was arrested and charged with first-degree murder, second-degree possession of a firearm, and second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm.

Bease was arrested and charged with second-degree possession of a firearm while in the course of committing a controlled dangerous substance (CDS) offense.

Both were taken to the Somerset County Jail pending a detention hearing.

The New Jersey Regional Medical Examiner’s Office will perform an autopsy to determine the cause and manner of Philemon's death. The investigation is ongoing as investigators continue to gather evidence.

Anyone with information relating to this incident is asked to contact the Bridgewater Police Department at 908-722-4111, the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office Major Crimes Unit 908- 231-7100, or via the STOPit app. The STOPit app allows citizens to provide anonymous reports including videos and photos. STOPit can be downloaded to your smart phone for free at the Google Play Store or Apple App Store, access code: SOMERSETNJ.

Information can also be provided through the Somerset County Crime Stoppers' Tip Line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477). All anonymous STOPit reports and Crime Stopper tips will be kept confidential.

• See Related: 1 Dead In Bridgewater Shooting On Father's Day Eve

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