10 More Charged In Caravan That Attacked NJ Trooper: Authorities

Ten people more people have been charged in connection with the shooting of a New Jersey State Trooper during a home invasion investigation in South Jersey on April 25, Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal and New Jersey State Police Superintendent Colonel Patrick J. Callahan announced.

The following people have been charged with second-degree conspiracy to commit aggravated assault and third-degree rioting in the shooting of Det. Richard Hershey:

1. Ashley Diaz-Acevedo, 22, of Bridgeton, N.J.
2. Melissa Romero, 22, of Bridgeton, N.J.
3. Noel Lazu, 20, of Bridgeton, N.J.
4. Markese Rogers, 25, of Pittsgrove, N.J.
5. Aisha McArthur, 25, of Vineland, N.J.
6. Rovell L. McArthur Jr., 26, of Vineland, N.J.
7. Jenislen Quiles, 19, of Bridgeton, N.J.
8. Shakeem Waters, 31, of Bridgeton, N.J.
9. Thomas Nieves III, 30, of Bridgeton, N.J.
10. Chayana Diaz, 22, of Bridgeton, N.J.

Authorities said Romero told Najzeir "Naz" Hutchings, 21 of Bridgeton, to bring a gun to the scene. She has been charged with conspiracy to unlawfully possess a weapon and conspiracy to possess a weapon for an unlawful purpose.

Hutchings was the first of three men to be charged in the shooting. Read more here: 8 Charged In Home Invasion, NJ Trooper Shooting: Authorities

He was previously charged with first-degree attempted murder, aggravated assault on a police officer, unlawful possession of a weapon, and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose.

Also among the new charges, Diaz-Acevedo has been charged with third-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and fourth-degree unlawful possession of a weapon for a knife authorities said she was carrying.

Nine people have been arrested, and a warrant has been issued for the arrest of Waters, according to authorities. All 10 are accused of being part of a five-vehicle caravan that approached Hershey at about 10:30 p.m. on April 25 as he was investigating a home invasion at a trailer park in Salem County that had taken place earlier in the evening.

Less than a week after Hitchings was charged in the shooting, Tremaine M. Hadden, 27 of Bridgeton, was arrested in the shooting of Det. Richard Hershey. Read more here: Second Man Arrested In NJ Trooper Shooting: Authorities

Hadden was charged with first-degree attempted murder, second-degree aggravated assault on a police officer, second-degree possession of a weapon as a convicted felon, second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon.

Earlier this week, Kareen "Kai" Warner Jr., 19 of Bridgeton, was charged with first-degree attempted murder, second-degree aggravated assault on a police officer and second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, authorities announced.

Warner was previously arrested and charged with a single count of second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon. Read more here: Third Man Charged In NJ Trooper Shooting: Authorities

Authorities said 18-year-old Colby Opperman, of Bridgeton, was also armed with a gun, but he has yet to be charged in the shooting. He is charged with a single count of second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon.

Hutchings, Warner, and Opperman were ordered detained in the Salem County Jail pending trial. Hadden is in custody awaiting a detention hearing.

On the night of the shooting, a caravan approached the state trooper in the Harding Woods mobile home park on Harding Highway in Pittsgrove.

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.

The trooper 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. He was released from the hospital earlier this week.

Several hours earlier, five women broke into a home in the Harding Woods mobile home park on Harding Highway in Pittsgrove at about 6:15 p.m. Saturday, 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.

The following five women were charged with three second-degree crimes — aggravated assault, robbery, and conspiracy to commit robbery — as well as burglary and conspiracy to commit burglary, which are both third-degree crimes:

• Jazmin Valentin, 32, of Bridgeton;
• Yomari Lazu, 43, of Bridgeton.;
• Iramari Lazu, 22, of Bridgeton;
• Maria Betancourt, 39, of Vineland; and
• Mayra Roblero, 52, of Bridgeton.

Authorities said Iramari Lazu was also a member of the caravan. Iramari Lazu and Yomari Lazu were ordered detained pending trial and the other three women were released with conditions after detention hearings.

New Jersey State Police and the Salem County Prosecutor's Office investigated the home invasion. The shooting investigation was conducted by the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability and the New Jersey State Police, specifically the Major Crime Unit South, Troop "A" Criminal Investigation Office, Crime Scene Investigation Unit and Cold Case Unit of the New Jersey State Police.

The arrests were made by the New Jersey State Police Fugitive and TEAMS Units. Assistance was provided by the U.S. Marshals Service NY/NJ Regional Fugitive Task Force, under the direction of U.S. Marshal Juan Mattos, Jr. and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Charlie J. Patterson.