Shooting Of NJ Cop Leads To Guilty Verdict, But Not For Attempted-Murder Charge

PITTSGROVE, NJ — A jury returned a guilty verdict on a man involved in the 2020 shooting of a police officer in South Jersey, which could lead to decades behind bars, authorities announced Wednesday. But the jury couldn't reach a verdict on Tremaine Hadden's most serious charge: attempted murder.

Hadden was one of 14 people indicted in connection with the April 2020 incident at a mobile-home park in Pittsgrove, Salem County. The shooting wounded State Police Det. Richard Hershey, who went to the scene to investigate a home invasion.

A Salem County jury found Hadden, of Bridgeton, guilty of six counts: aggravated assault, conspiracy, unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, certain persons not to possess weapons — all second-degree offenses — and third-degree riot.

The 30-year-old faces more than 40 years in prison, with sentencing scheduled for Aug. 11.

During the incident, Hershey went to the Harding Woods mobile-home park to investigate after a woman was beaten and robbed, according to the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General. At the scene of the crime, which occurred hours earlier, 15 people linked to the assailants arrived in a caravan of five vehicles, authorities said. The AG's office says the group intended to attack and injure a resident and damage her home.

Some of the members exited their vehicles and confronted Hershey, who identified himself as law enforcement and gave commands. Hadden fired at the officer numerous times from one vehicle, while two others — Najzeir “Naz” Hutchings and Kareen “Kai” Warner — shot at Hershey from another vehicle, authorities said.

Hershey suffered "serious" wounds after getting struck in the hip, according to the AG's office. Law enforcement said the caravan was armed with at least two handguns, one knife and one bottle.

Hutchings and Warner, both Bridgeton residents, pleaded guilty last month to aggravated assault. The remaining suspects were charged with second-degree conspiracy to commit aggravated assault and third-degree rioting, while some were also charged with weapons offenses.