'Armed, Dangerous' Somerset Man Wanted In New Year's Eve Murder

SOMERSET, NJ — Police have identified Luther Waters, III, 21, of Denise Court, Somerset as the fifth person involved in the New Year's Eve murder of Samaad Frazier, 19, Jill Court, of Somerset.

Four teens have already been charged in connection with the homicide. (See Related: 4 Teens Arrested In Fatal New Year's Eve Shooting In Franklin)

Waters remains at large and his whereabouts are unknown at this time. Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson urges the public to notify authorities if they know of his location.

Waters should be considered armed and dangerous and authorities caution the public from confronting Waters.

On Dec. 31 at around 3:25 p.m. a 911 call reported multiple shots fired in the area of Churchill Avenue. When police arrived they found Frazier inside a car on Churchill Avenue near the back of a home, Robertson said.

Frazier was taken to an area trauma center where he later died from his injuries and was pronounced dead. A post-mortem examination performed by the New Jersey Northern Regional Medical Examiner’s Office ruled the death a homicide.

Police reportedly saw a vehicle speeding away from the scene on Hamilton Street and Berry Street. When officers tried to stop the vehicle, it sped away causing a car chase before it crashed at the intersection of Easton Avenue and Oakland Avenue.

The five people inside the vehicle ran away on foot in different directions with police following them. Gavin M. Owens-Jones, 18, of Barker Road, Franklin Township was caught by police and was armed with a semi-automatic handgun, Robertson said.

Owens-Jones dropped his weapon and was arrested. Jeffrey J. Grant Jr., 19, of Culver Street, Somerset and a 16-year-old Somerset male juvenile identified as I.S. were also caught by police.

On Jan. 2, 2020 a 16-year-old Somerset male juvenile identified as T.H. also turned himself into police. The fifth suspect remains at large.

Owens-Jones was charged with first-degree murder, second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and fourth-degree eluding by flight.

Grant was charged with first-degree murder, and fourth-degree eluding by flight. Owens-Jones and Grant were taken to the Somerset County Jail pending a bail detention hearing.

Juvenile I.S. was charged with fourth-degree eluding and released to a family member pending a family court appearance. Juvenile T.H. was charged with first-degree murder and lodged at the Middlesex County Youth Detention Center pending a family court appearance.

Along with the Franklin Township Police and Somerset County Prosecutor's Office, the New Brunswick Police Department, Rutgers Police Department, Bound Brook Police Department K-9 Unit, and the New Jersey State Police Aviation Unit also helped.

Anyone with information relating to these shootings or the homicide to contact the Somerset County Prosecutors Office Major Crimes Unit at 908-231-7100 or the Franklin Township Police Department at 732-873-5533 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.

Have a news tip? Email alexis.tarrazi@patch.com.

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