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Police & Fire
Suspected Toms River Hookah Lounge Killer Will Stay In Jail For Trial: Prosecutors Suspected Toms River Hookah Lounge Killer Will Stay In Jail For Trial: Prosecutors
Suspected Toms River Hookah Lounge Killer Will Stay In Jail For Trial: Prosecutors The man accused of murder in a triple shooting at a Toms River hookah lounge will have to stay in jail through his trial. A judge ordered on Thursday, Feb. 22 that Eric Manzanares, 24, of Asbury Park, will remain detained in the Ocean County Jail pending his trial, county prosecutor Bradley Billhimer announced. He was charged with murder, attempted murder, aggravated assault, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and unlawful possession of a weapon. Manzanares has been held in the county jail since Wednesday, Jan. 24, when he was extradited to New Jersey from Virginia. H…

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by Chris Spiker
Police & Fire
Fugitive From NYC Wanted For Murdering Fellow Out-Of-Stater In Englewood Captured In Colombia Fugitive From NYC Wanted For Murdering Fellow Out-Of-Stater In Englewood Captured In Colombia
Fugitive From NYC Wanted For Murdering Fellow Out-Of-Stater In Englewood Captured In Colombia The long arm of the law reached 2,400 miles to South America, where authorities arrested a fugitive wanted for shooting a Yonkers resident dead in Englewood late last summer. Joshua Alvarado, 29, of New York City was captured in Medellin last Saturday, Feb. 17, with assistance from U.S. Marshals and the Colombian National Police, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said. Alvarado is charged with murder, felony murder, armed burglary, aggravated assault and weapons offenses, among other counts, the prosecutor said. Englewood police responding to a 911 call to a residence on Mevan Avenue …

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Jersey City Man Convicted Of Stabbing Woman To Death In Her Apartment Jersey City Man Convicted Of Stabbing Woman To Death In Her Apartment
Jersey City Man Convicted Of Stabbing Woman To Death In Her Apartment UPDATE: Jurors in Jersey City convicted a local man of stabbing a city woman dead in her apartment 5½ years ago. Ishmeal "Rico" Coleman, 46, of the Salem Lafayette Gardens housing complex was found guilty of murder and multiple weapons offenses in the Aug. 12, 2018 stabbing death of Takeela Wilson, 38, in her home in the 300 block of Forrest Street. People who knew both of them identified Coleman in a photo array, authorities said. Police sat on Wilson’s car, then grabbed Coleman when he approached it carrying the keys. Assistant Hudson County Prosecutor Najma Rana secured the guilty verd…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Paramus Man Who Stabbed Dad Dead Tried Burning Body To Destroy Evidence, Detectives Say Paramus Man Who Stabbed Dad Dead Tried Burning Body To Destroy Evidence, Detectives Say
Paramus Man Who Stabbed Dad Dead Tried Burning Body To Destroy Evidence, Detectives Say UPDATE: A Paramus man who’d just stabbed his father to death dragged the body to a bathroom and tried to set it on fire last week as part of an attempt to conceal what he’d done, authorities said. Melvin Thomas repeatedly stabbed his father, 61-year-old Manuel Thomas, in the chest with a kitchen knife on Valentine’s Day, a criminal complaint says. He then dragged the bloody corpse to a bathroom where he tried igniting it with a lighter, according to the complaint filed by Paramus Police Detective Justin Sicari. “This attempt failed,” the detective wrote. Melvin Thomas wiped off the bloody…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Paramus Murder: Man Stabbed Dad Dead, Left Him In Home Two Days, Sources Say Paramus Murder: Man Stabbed Dad Dead, Left Him In Home Two Days, Sources Say
Paramus Murder: Man Stabbed Dad Dead, Left Him In Home Two Days, Sources Say UPDATE: A Paramus man who’d just stabbed his father to death dragged the body to a bathroom and tried to set it on fire last week as part of an attempt to conceal what he’d done, authorities said. Melvin Thomas repeatedly stabbed his father, 61-year-old Manuel Thomas, in the chest with a kitchen knife on Valentine’s Day, a criminal complaint says. He then dragged the bloody corpse to a bathroom where he tried igniting it with a lighter, according to the complaint filed by Paramus Police Detective Justin Sicari. “This attempt failed,” the detective wrote. Melvin Thomas wiped off the b…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
JAW-DROPPER: Accused Killer Of Paterson Woman Found Bludgeoned, Shot Could Be Freed In 3 Years JAW-DROPPER: Accused Killer Of Paterson Woman Found Bludgeoned, Shot Could Be Freed In 3 Years
Jaw-dropper: Accused Killer Of Paterson Woman Found Bludgeoned, Shot Could Be Freed In 3 Years The accused killer of a woman whose body was found battered, bloodied and stuffed into a car parked on a Paterson street cut a plea deal that staggered the victim's loved ones. Now they want the Passaic County Prosecutor's Office investigated. Someone "should shed light on the lack of accountability the prosecutor's office takes for letting killers walk free in our community," said Sandra Williams. Williams was the one who'd called police and later found the body of her friend, 38-year-old single mom Stephanie DeJesus of Paterson, in the victims's Lincoln MKZ at the intersection of James S…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Burlington County Man Sentenced In Stabbing Deaths Of Friend, His Dog Burlington County Man Sentenced In Stabbing Deaths Of Friend, His Dog
Burlington County Man Sentenced In Stabbing Deaths Of Friend, His Dog A 27-year-old man from Evesham has been sentenced to 34 years in New Jersey State Prison without parole for fatally stabbing a friend, as well as his dog, while robbing him, authorities said. Donovan G. Hollingsworth was found guilty of first-degree murder, cruelty to animals and other charges in August 2023, according to Burlington County Prosecutor LaChia L. Bradshaw. A judge ruled on Friday, Feb. 9 that Hollingsworth must serve 30 years in prison with no parole eligibility for the murder, then serve an additional four years for killing the dog. An investigation began the morning of…

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by Jon Craig
Police & Fire
Convicted Jersey City Killer Indicted In Brutal Pickup Truck Murder Of Ex-GF Convicted Jersey City Killer Indicted In Brutal Pickup Truck Murder Of Ex-GF
Convicted Jersey City Killer Indicted In Brutal Pickup Truck Murder Of Ex-GF 𝗨𝗣𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘: A convicted killer from Jersey City was indicted for deliberately running down his ex-girlfriend and dumping her body off Route 440 last Mother's Day. Gregory Mallard, a 35-year-old reputed gang member who had two children with 32-year-old Norelis Mendoza, is charged with her murder, as well as desecration of her remains and evidence tampering, among other counts. Mallard is scheduled to be arraigned on the indictment in Superior Court in Jersey City on Monday, Feb. 12. He's been held since detectives arrested him last May 19 -- five days after surveillance cameras captured images …

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by Jerry DeMarco
News
South Jersey Man Gets Life In Prison For Atlantic City Teen's Slaying South Jersey Man Gets Life In Prison For Atlantic City Teen's Slaying
South Jersey Man Gets Life In Prison For Atlantic City Teen's Slaying A Pleasantville man will likely spend the rest of his life in prison for killing an Atlantic City teen almost four years ago, authorities said. Lewis Johnson, 35, was sentenced on Tuesday, Feb. 6 to life in prison, the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office announced on Wednesday, Feb. 7. He must serve at least 63 3/4 years before he's eligible for parole under the No Early Release Act. Prosecutors said Johnson killed a 17-year-old boy identified by the initials C.W. on Monday, June 8, 2020. Johnson drove down to Atlantic City from Easton, Pennsylvania, to help his then-girlfriend Shaquana Lew…

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by Chris Spiker
Police & Fire
Man Indicted For Fatal Mass Shooting At Party In Cumberland County: Prosecutor Man Indicted For Fatal Mass Shooting At Party In Cumberland County: Prosecutor
Man Indicted For Fatal Mass Shooting At Party In Cumberland County: Prosecutor A 30-year-old man from Cumberland County has been indicted for first-degree murder in a shooting at a birthday party in 2021, authorities said. Arthur Armstead, of Fairfield Township, was additionally charged with conspiracy to commit murder, according to Cumberland County Prosecutor Jennifer Webb-McRae. A second man also was charged in the targeted attack that left three people dead and 11 people wounded. Armstead was indicted in connection to the deaths of Kevin Elliott and Brailyn Holmes and injuries to three people. Asia Hester also died from the shooting. At approximately 1…

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by Jon Craig
Police & Fire
Man Sentenced In Fatal Shooting Of Girlfriend In Mercer County: Prosecutor Man Sentenced In Fatal Shooting Of Girlfriend In Mercer County: Prosecutor
Man Sentenced In Fatal Shooting Of Girlfriend In Mercer County: Prosecutor A 41-year-old man from Ewing was sentenced to 45 years in New Jersey State Prison for the fatal shooting of his girlfriend, authorities said. Aaron Adams was found guilty of murder and weapons offenses, according to Mercer County Prosecutor Angelo J. Onofri. At approximately 6:30 p.m. on June 1, 2020, Ewing police were alerted to a deceased female in a home on Glen Stewart Drive.  Police found the victim, identified as Ashley Davis, 32, of Levittown, Pennsylvania, in the basement. There were visible wounds to Davis’ body and she was pronounced dead at the scen…

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by Jon Craig
Police & Fire
Man Convicted Of Fatal Shooting In Camden: Prosecutor Man Convicted Of Fatal Shooting In Camden: Prosecutor
Man Convicted Of Fatal Shooting In Camden: Prosecutor A 22-year-old man from Camden has been convicted of murder in a fatal shooting death, authorities said. Antony Shields was found guilty on Tuesday, Jan. 30, of first-degree felony murder, first-degree aggravated manslaughter, and second-degree conspiracy to commit robbery, according to Camden County Prosecutor Grace C. MacAulay and Camden County Police Chief Gabriel Rodriguez. Shields was found guilty of killing 21-year-old Alex Fernandez of Philadelphia in 2021, they said. On Feb. 4, 2021, the Camden County Police Department and the Camden County Prosecutor’s Offi…

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by Jon Craig