A break in the case.......

Police in Newark NJ ,arrested a 15 year-old boy Wednesday night, in the execution killings of three college students. They have also issued a warrent for a 31 year-old man in connection to the case and have stated that they expect to make more arrests.

"We believe that there are others involved in this heinous crime. We're looking for them," stated prosecutor Paula Dow.

The authorities are seeking Jose Carranza, 31, based on fingerprint and ballistics evidence. He is wanted on three counts of first-degree murder, one count of attempted murder and one count of conspiracy to commit robbery. The teen was arrested on the same charges and his identity at this time has not been released because of his age.

Police believe from their investigation and information provided by Natasha, that this began simply as a robbery. I expect that more of this chilling case will unfold as more arrests are made much the same as the Petit case in CT has been slowly unfolding.

While this crime has brought unwanted attention to the crime levels in the city of Newark, it has also brought many of it's residents together. Law enforcement organizations and residents have donated $150,000 so far, to aid the families of the victims and to raise the reward fund.

This may have begun as a robbery but what was actually stolen, were the hopes and dreams of three young people and their families.

For my previous post, go here.

Update:

In the rapidly unfolding investigation of suspects in the weekend shooting, reports now are that Jose Carranza , 28, has turned himself in. His attorney, Felix Lopez Montalvo called Mayor Cory Booker earlier this today, stating that Carranza wanted to surrender directly to the mayor.

"I said simply, let's find a spot," stated Booker.

Booker had earlier announced that there was a $150,000 reward for information leading to his capture. Carranza is reported to have three prior arrests and one pending trial and calls to his attorney were not immediately returned. He had been tied to the case directly from a fingerprint found on a bottle at the crime scene.

His surrender, while it may be a welcome event, seems to betray how much of a coward he could be. I don't believe it was done for the victims in this shooting but rather, to possibly "save his own skin" from a city that has been shocked and outraged by this brutal crime.

Prosecutor Dow has stated that they would seek an adult trial for the teen arrested. An arrest warrent had been obtained for Carranza on Wednesday and the search for him by authorities led to the teen, who was arrested at about 11 pm. Authorities have said that Carranza and the teen are not related.

Booker had gotten word that Carranza had wanted to turn himself in during her news conference today. The surrender took place at the police office next to City Hall. Hours later, handcuffed and making no comment, he was escorted into police headquarters thru the back door. He had recent addresses in both the towns of Orange and Hillside.

Police Director Garry McCarthy and other police officials have declined to say if they have determined who had fired the shots or what kind of weapons or weapons had been used in the crime. They are also pursuing the possiblity that the murders had been premeditated based on the damage that had been done to the schoolyard security cameras.

Update: posted Aug 10

Both suspects have faced a judge for arraigment. The 15 year-old was arraigned on Thursday and remains in the custody of juvenile aithorities, Jose Carranza was arraigned today. Both have pleaded not guilty.

Carranza was formally charged in the Essex County Superior Court with murder, robbery, attempted murder and various weapons charges and his bail was set at $1 million. Superior Court Judge Michael R Casale also ordered that Carranza be held seperate from the general population for his own protection. It has been that been reported that the police are looking for at least one more adult and two juveniles who may be connected with the brutal crime. Newark Police Director Garry McCarthy has stated that they are close to piecing together the entire event.

While in court Friday, Carranza spoke through an interpretor and more details have emerged about him. He is an illegal immigrant from Peru who had been using a bogus social security number. According to court records, he had been indicted by grand juries in New Jersey twice this year. In April he was indicted on aggravated assault and weapons charges and on July 31, he had been indicted on counts that included aggravated sexual assault of a child under 13 years-old and endangering the welfare of a child he had a duty to supervise. It has been reported that he was to have been in court Monday in relation to those charges.

Connecticut is grappling with the question of why their parole system allowed two men now charged in the Petit killings free, New Jersey it seems has to face the questions that many have nationwide. How was an illegal alien, charged with serious crimes, allowed to continue to be out on the streets. The answer to that question, I can only hope will lead the next round of debates over what should be done to solve the problems here with illegal immigration.

Update: posted Aug 11

Funeral services for the three victims are today.

Services for Harvey will be held this morning at Newark's Metropolitan Baptist Church.

Services for Terrance Aeriel will be held this afternoon at New Hope Baptist Church.

Services for Hightower will be held this afternoon at Grace Temple Baptist Church in Newark.

Another suspect, a 15 year-old, was arrested on Friday afternoon and faces the same charges as the other two suspects. Police declined to state what his role in the shooings was. He remains in custody and authorities state they intend to try him as an adult as well.

Essex County Prosecutor Paula T Dow has described Carranza as a :significant suspect" but declined to comment on what role he had in the crimes or on the prior charges he faces. She didn't answer questions on how he had been released on bail for the previous charges, despite his immigration status.

"I believe in a higher power, but I can't help but think had the (authorities) done their job in the beginning , this might not have happened," stated Latasia Harvey, cousin to one of the victims.

Carranza faces four counts of aggravated assault and weapons charges that stem from a barroom fight on Oct 1 2006 at Huguioto's Bar in West Orange. He had been released on $50,000 bail in that case. Carranza had been released on $150,000 bail in the case of sexual assault. He was alleged to have begun abusing the young girl, said to be a relative, in 2003 when she was 4 years-old and the abuse continued until this year. It has been stated that they had sought a higher bail of $300,000 in that case but there has not been an explaination as to why it was lower.

Dow stated in a CNN interview that the "uproar" over Carranza's immigration status is going to have to wait until another day before it is addressed. She stated that they realize that it is an issue within the judicial system presently and they are working to address it. Christopher Y Iu, the prosecutor handling the barroom fight case has stated that they never chacked his immigration status. Mark S Ali, one of the prosecutor's supervising the sexual assault case has stated that the office probably believed Carranza had legal immigration status, based on his application to the public defender's office. Carranza is said to have a private attorney presently.

No one answered the door at the home where Carranza lived in Orange, Friday. His sister, Diana Carranza, who lives on the same street, told the New York Times that her brother had lived at the sea-green three-story home with his wife and children. She stated that her brother was innocent and declined to comment on how many children he had living with him.

Police still believe that the four victims did not know any of the suspects before the encountering Saturday night. They still state as well, that they believe robbery was the motive for the crime.

Update:

The three friends were laid to rest in seperate ceremonies today. Dashon Harvey, 20, was the first. Harvey, an aspiring fashion model and socialwork major at Deleware State was remembered by his friends as good hearted and always wearing a smile. He was a drum major at Malcolm X Shabazz High School because University High didn't have a marching band.

The crowds overflowed at New Hope Baptist Church for the ceremony for Terrance Aeriel, 18. Known a T J, he was an ordained minister at age 13 and was remembered for his devotion to the church and his work with various youth organizations. One of his friends had stated that he had not changed the whole time they grew up, he always had God on his mind and had been a great help.

The service for Iofemi Hightower, 20. was last in the day and she was remembered as a beautiful person inside and out. Hightower always strived to elevate herself beyond what we all see around us, her aunt stated.

Authorities have stated that they have an arrest warrent for Rodolfo Gondinez, 24, a Nicaraguan national who lived in Newark's Ivy Hill section. He is described as a "principal player" in the shootings and will be charged with the same counts as the three who are already in custody.

Update: posted Aug 19

U S Marshall's have arrested two more suspects in the shootings....... and it is no surprize to me that they were outside the Washington D C area. Rodolfo Godinez was arrested in a rooming house in Oxon Hill MD, off the I-495 beltway at approximately 1 am Aug 18. An unidentified 16 year-old, believed to be Rodolfo's half brother was arrested about 45 minutes later in Woodbridge VA. Both are now awaiting extradition to New Jersey and authorities are searching for at least one more suspect.

The authorities had received a tip that Godinez was staying at that address from a confidential informant and staked out the home. It was believed that he was planning to flee to Texas and then to Mexico from there. They did the same at the address they had received for the 16 year-old. Approximately 10 people were arrested at the Oxon Hill address for immigration violations and three were arrested at the second address for obstruction of justice and immigration violations.

Not only was this a horrible crime but it also is beginning to reveal some of the dirty underbelly of illegal immigration in this country. Not only does it exist but it seems to be very highly organized in it's execution.

Update: posted Aug 20

Early Sunday morning, Melvin Jovel, 18, was arrested in Elixabeth NJ, bringing to a close, the hunt for the suspects in the triple murder. He had been charged Saturday night and 10 officers from the Newark police department and the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency made the arrest at approximately 3 am.

He was captured without incident at a relative's home and is expected to be arraigned this morning. He is considered to be a major suspect and his bail had been set at $2 million by State Superior Court Judge Michael Ravin. His arrest came about 24 hours after federal authorities in the Washington D C area arrested Rodolfo Godinez, 24, and his half-brother, Alexander Alfaro, 16.

There is no evidence of familial connections to Godinez but authorities stated that information gained from his arrest led them to Jovel. His immigration status is also unknown at this time. All of the suspects have been charged with three counts of murder in addition to other charges.