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TRENTON A state grand jury on Monday indicted 14 men and women fora incident last year that lefta New Jersey State Police detective seriously wounded at a mobile homepark in Salem County.

The New Jersey Attorney Generals Office announced first-degree attempted murder and second-degree aggravated assault chargesagainst Najzeir Naz Hutchings, 22; Kareen Kai Warner, 20; and Tremaine Hadden, 28.

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Hutchings, Warner, and Hadden, all Bridgeton residents, all face other charges as well. They are in jail pending trial.

An indictment, like the preceding arrest charge, is an allegation a crime was committed and not a proof of guilt. The next step would be arraignment hearings for the defendants, who would be tried in Salem County if their cases reach that stage.

Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewalpraised state police Detective Richard Hershey for courageously responding to a dangerous situation.

I promised at the outset of this investigation to bring all of those responsible to justice, Grewal said. As I said at the time, we wont tolerate mob violence and we certainly wont tolerate an attempt to murder a police officer.

The detectivereportedly was hit in one leg but was able to fire his weapon during the April 25, 2020 incident. Hisfirearm use remains the subject of a separate investigation, a requirement under a N.J. Attorney Generals Office directive.

According to the Attorney Generals Office, the incident started with a hostile mob of 15 people, traveling in five cars, arriving at Harding Woods. The group allegedly had two handguns with them, at least, and officials claim the group intended to attack and inflict damage on a resident and her home.

Hershey already was present to investigate areported home invasion, in which a woman was beaten and robbed.

According to Mondays statement, members of the group got out of their vehicles and confronted Hershey. He reportedly identified himself and issued commands in an effort to control the intruders.

Hershey then reportedly was taken under fire, with Hutchings and Warner allegedly shooting from one vehicle and Hadden allegedly from another vehicle. The detective fired back, and the group fled.

The brazen ambush attack of Detective Richard Hershey was a violent assault that put the lives of innocent bystanders in jeopardy, NJSP Superintendent Patrick J. Callahan stated. Detective Hershey stood his ground under a barrage of gunfire and his actions undoubtedly prevented this assault from becoming a mass casualty incident.

The grand jury returned a range of charges, with not all defendants facing the same charges.

In addition, Bridgeton resident Imari Lazu, 23, pleaded guilty Monday morning to conspiracy to commit witness tampering/second degree. Under the plea agreement, the state will recommend that she be sentenced to three years in state prison.

The shooting investigation was conducted by the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability, Division of Criminal Justice, and New Jersey State Police, specifically itsMajor Crime Unit South, Troop A Criminal Investigation Office, Crime Scene Investigation Unit and Cold Case Unit of the New Jersey State Police.

New Jersey State Police Fugitive and TEAMS units made the arrests. Assistance was provided by the U.S. Marshals Service NY/NJ Regional Fugitive Task Force and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

First-degree attempted murder carries a sentence of 10 to 20 years in prison, with a period of parole ineligibility equal to 85 percent of the sentence imposed,and a fine of up to $200,000.

Second-degree crimes carry a sentence of five to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $150,000.

Possession of a weapon as a convicted felon carries a mandatory minimum term of fiveyears without parole.

Unlawful possession of a weapon carries a mandatory term of parole ineligibility equal to one-third to one-half of the sentence imposed or three and a half years, whichever is greater.

Third-degree crimes carry a sentence of three to fiveyears in prison and a fine of up to $15,000, while fourth-degree crimes carry a sentence of up to eighteen months in prison and a fine up to $10,000.

Joe Smith is a N.E. Philly native transplanted to South Jersey more than 30 years ago, keeping an eye now on government in South Jersey. He is a former editor and current senior staff writer forThe Daily Journal in Vineland, Courier-Post in Cherry Hill, and the Burlington County Times.

Have a tip? Reach out at (856) 563-5252 or jsmith@thedailyjournal.com or follow me on Twitter, @jpsmith-dj. Help support local journalism with a subscription.

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Grand jury indicts 14 in mobile home shootout, NJSP detective wounded in incident - The Daily Journal