'Gun Clutched In His Hand:' NJ Mass Shooting Details Released

FAIRFIELD TOWNSHIP, NJ — Kevin Dawkins was found laying down beside a tree, "with a handgun clutched in his right hand," behind an apartment complex, police say. Nearby, 14 people were shot, and three people were killed.

As of Friday, it was still not clear what role Dawkins played in what police say was one of the most deadly mass shooting incidents in New Jersey in years.

Dawkins was one of two people arrested in connection with the mass shooting at a party in Cumberland County over the weekend. More details were released this week on the horrific event that caused Gov. Phil Murphy to say: "We hold those who have died, and their families, in our prayers today, and we also pray for the recoveries of those injured."

Dawkins, 36 of Bridgeton, was arrested on Sunday and charged with unlawful possession of a weapon and other gun charges, according to court records. Read more here: Deadly NJ Mass Shooting Update: Arrest Made, Victims ID’d

His criminal history includes his status as a Tier 2 sex offender. He was convicted in 2004 of the aggravated sexual assault of a juvenile girl, according to state records.

He was arrested early Sunday morning by Bridgeton police officers who were responding to an anonymous call about a person in possession of a handgun in the wooded section behind the Maple Garden Apartment Complex in Cumberland County, according to the criminal complaint.

Officers found him lying down beside a tree with a handgun clutched in his right hand, police said in the affidavit. When officers ordered him to drop the gun, he did, police said.

How Dawkins ended up in a place that was five minutes away from the site of the mass shooting, on East Commerce Street in Fairfield Township where Dawkins lives, was not revealed in the criminal complaints.

Before the shooting took place, there was another party in the area that had been broken up over noise complaints. Police believe some of the people from that party ended up at the party in which the shooting took place, but it is not clear if Dawkins was one of those people.

It's also not known if he's related to Darrell Dawkins, the homeowner who threw Saturday night's party. Darrell Dawkins, 30 of Bridgeton, was arrested on Tuesday following the execution of a search warrant at his home. The search warrant included cars that were on the scene, according to an affidavit released by the state Superior Court.

Police found a purple and silver 9mm Taurus handgun in the trunk of one of the cars, according to the affidavit. The car was registered to Darrell Dawkins, who has been charged with unlawful possession of a handgun. Read more here: NJ Mass Shooting Updated: 3rd Person Dies, Another Arrest Made

Authorities also have not said if either man was directly involved in the shootings, even though one of them was allegedly found with a gun in his hand and the other allegedly had a 9mm handgun.

Darrell Dawkins was scheduled for his first court appearance on Friday, while Kevin Dawkins' pretrial detention hearing is set for June 2.

The three people killed in the shootings have been identified as Kevin Elliott, 30, and Asia Hester, 25, both of Bridgeton; and Braylin Holmes, 19, of Millville. Holmes died on Monday night at Cooper University Hospital as a result of her injures suffered in the shooting.

Hester had moved from Kingston, Jamaica, to pursue a career in nursing. She graduated from Rowan College of South Jersey's Cumberland County campus, and worked as a Patient Care Tech at Jefferson Health's Washington Township campus. Read more here: Grief For NJ Mass Shooting Victim Who Came To America For Nursing

The other 11 victims range in age, up to 35, authorities said. Some who suffered minor injuries have already been released from the hospital.

Authorities expect other arrests to be made in the incident. Anyone with information is asked to call the New Jersey State Police Bridgeton Station at 856-451-0101 or submit a tip via the Cumberland County Prosecutor's Office tip website at www.njccpo.org/tips. Anonymous tips are welcome.