Second Man Arrested In NJ Trooper Shooting: Authorities

Another man accused of shooting at a New Jersey State Trooper during a home invasion investigation in South Jersey last weekend has been arrested, Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal and New Jersey State Police Superintendent Colonel Patrick J. Callahan announced on Friday.

Tremaine M. Hadden, 27 of Bridgeton, was arrested by New Jersey State Police on Thursday night, authorities said on Friday. Hadden is accused of firing at Det. Richard Hershey, a state trooper that was investigating a home invasion that happened at a mobile home in Pittsgrove on Saturday.

Najzeir "Naz" Hutchings, 21 of Bridgeton, was previously arrested in connection with the shooting. Both men were part of a caravan that approached the trooper during the investigation at about 10:30 p.m. on April 25. Read more here: 8 Charged In Home Invasion, 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.

Hadden is in custody pending a detention hearing. Hutchings has been 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.

Authorities previously said Hutchings, 19-year-old Kareen "Kai" Warner Jr. of Bridgeton, and Colby Opperman, 18, of Bridgeton, were all armed with guns, and that Hutchings shot the trooper in the upper leg.

The trooper shot back, and the three men fled the scene, authorities said. He was then taken to the hospital, where he underwent successful surgery, authorities said. He continues to recover in stable condition.

Warner and Opperman were each charged with a single count of second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon. Opperman has been ordered to stay in jail pending trial. Detention hearings are pending for Hutchings and Warner.

A woman who was part of the caravan was shot in the leg during the gunfight, authorities said. She was treated at the hospital and later released. She has not been charged in this incident.

The incident took place several hours after 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.

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.