4 Arrested In Shooting At Camden Officers' Home: Police

CAMDEN, NJ — Four people have been arrested in connection with the shooting of a home belonging to two Camden County Police Officers who recently had a baby, authorities announced on Monday afternoon.

Kobbie Johnson, 30 of Collingswood, and Julio Nieves, 19, Jeremiah McDonald, 18, and Jaqwa Styles, 19, all of Pennsauken, were arrested over a 36-hour period over the weekend, Camden County Police Chief Joseph Wysocki announced.

“I want to thank all of the participating agencies for closing this case and bringing justice to our victims,” Wysocki said. “I cannot say enough good things about the work that was done by our shooting response team with assistance from the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office, FBI, ATF, DEA, the US Attorney’s Office, the Marshalls Task Force and the New Jersey State Police.”

Johnson was arrested in West Hartford, Ct., on Friday night, Wysocki said during a news conference. Nieves, McDonald and Styles were then arrested over the weekend in Pennsauken and Camden, Wysocki said.

They are accused of firing six rounds at the home on the 2900 block of Clinton Street just before midnight on Sept. 15 while the couple was home and the 10-day-old baby slept upstairs. Two rounds made it through the front door into the home, and seven more shell casings were found in front of the home, authorities said. Read more here: Men Shot 6 Rounds At Officers' Camden Home While Baby Slept: Cops

The officers, who are members of the neighborhood response team, were uninjured and remain on family medical leave related to the birth of their child. Detectives found a 1998 dark-colored Honda Odyssey with a temporary paper tag they believe was involved in the incident the following day and had it towed for further investigation, according to authorities.

Although it is well-known that the officers live in that home, Wysocki said the home wasn’t targeted because the officers live there, and he doesn't think the suspects knew the officers lived there. He didn't elaborate on a possible motive. The officers have lived in the home for three years, according to Wysocki.

“Getting these particular individuals off the streets will be a benefit for our community, that said, we are addressing a sudden surge in violent crime,” Wysocki said. “We are focusing all our efforts now on gun violence in order to proactively suppress and eliminate violent crime. That’s why today we are starting a new partnership with the ATF, so agents can work hand in glove with our shooting response team officers. We want to send a clear message to individuals that would even think about pulling a trigger- we will find you and prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law and you will not terrorize our community.”

The suspects have all been charged with three counts of attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder, unlawful possession of a weapon and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose. Johnson was also charged with one count of second-degree certain persons not to possess weapons.

Johnson was arrested by the East Hartford Police Department will be extradited in the coming days. Nieves, McDonald and Styles have all been remanded to Camden County Jail.

Up to $100,000 had been offered as a reward for information that resulted in arrests, but authorities didn't say anything about that reward on Monday. Read more here: $100K Reward Now Offered After Shooting At Camden Officers' Home

Wysocki was joined at the news conference by Camden County Prosecutor Jill Mayer, FBI, Special Agent in Charge, Michael Driscoll ATF, Special Agent in Charge, Charlie Patterson and representatives from the New Jersey State Police Department.

“These charges and arrests were made possible thanks to the coordination and collaboration between multiple departments, which is not an easy task,” Mayer said. “Detectives from the Camden County Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigations — Cherry Hill Office, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, the New Jersey State Police and the West Hartford Police Department in Connecticut all played in integral part in identifying, charging, and arresting the four individuals in this case.”

“ATF will continue to be a dependable team player with our partners, and we will remain vigilant in the fight against violent crime in our communities,” Patterson said. “Moreover, let it be known, for those who insist on committing violent gun crimes in our communities, you officially have our undivided attention. ATF Newark, along with our partners will continue to dedicate every resource available to ensure that anyone who contributes to violent gun crime, to include the opportunistic straw purchaser, the potential firearms trafficker, and ultimately the trigger puller, are held accountable.”

The investigation remains active. Anyone with information on the shooting or the vehicle that was used in the shooting should call the Camden County Police tip line at 856-757-7042, the Citizen's Crime Commission at 215-546-TIPS, or use the STOPit app.

More contact information for the agency can be found at www.camdencountypd.org and all tips and information are considered anonymous.