1 arrested in mass shooting at South Jersey birthday party that left 2 dead, 12 injured
FAIRFIELD TOWNSHIP, NJ (Cumberland County) – The New Jersey State Police announce the arrest of a man in connection to the mass shooting at a South Jersey house in Cumberland County Saturday night, state police said.
Kevin Dawkins, 36, of Bridgeton, NJ was charged with unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a large-capacity magazine, certain persons not to have weapons, and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose. He is currently lodged at the Cumberland County jail pending a bail detention hearing, state police said.
On May 22, at 11:50 p.m., state troopers responded to the report of a shooting at a residence on East Commerce Street in Fairfield Township, state police said.
When state troopers arrived, they discovered that Asia Hester, 25, and Kevin L. Elliott, 30, both of Bridgeton sustained fatal gunshot wounds, and 12 other adult victims were also shot and were already transported to area hospitals with various injuries, state police said.
The 12 victims were between 19 and 35 years of age and were from Cumberland County, Cumberland County Prosecutor Jennifer Webb-McRae said.
“This was not a random act of violence this was a targeted attack,” New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal said.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the New Jersey State Police Bridgeton Station at 856-451-0101 or submit a tip via the Cumberland County Prosecutor’s Office tipline at www.njccpo.org/tips. Anonymous tips are welcome.
