Third Man Charged In NJ Trooper Shooting: Authorities

A third man has been charged 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 on Tuesday.

Kareen "Kai" Warner Jr., 19 of Bridgeton, has been 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. He was one of three men arrested in the shooting of a state trooper who was investigating a home invasion that took place at a trailer park in Pittsgrove earlier the same day.

At the time, only Najzeir "Naz" Hutchings, 21 of Bridgeton, was charged in the shooting. Read more here: 8 Charged In Home Invasion, NJ Trooper Shooting: Authorities

He was 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.

Later that week, 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.

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.

Warner and Opperman have been ordered to stay in jail pending trial. Detention hearings for Hutchings and Hadden were scheduled for Wednesday.

The four men were part of a caravan that approached the trooper during the investigation at about 10:30 p.m. on April 25, as the trooper was investigating a home invasion that took place several hours earlier.

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 continues to recover in stable condition.

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.

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.

Yomari Lazu and Iramari Lazu are being held in jail pending trial. Valentin, Betancourt and Roblero have all been released with conditions.

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.