By: Michael Mandarino, Follow South Jersey Managing Editor
FAIRFIELD TOWNSHIP, N.J. — Law enforcement is asking community members to send any videos or photos that they have of Saturday night’s house party in Fairfield Township as part of its investigation into the mass shooting that took place.
Anyone who wishes to submit videos or photos to be used in the investigation into Saturday night’s mass shooting can do so anonymously here. You can also submit evidence or tips anonymously by calling the New Jersey State Police’s Bridgeton Station at (856) 451-0101 or reaching out to the Cumberland County Prosecutor’s Office’s tip hotline by visiting its website.
Fourteen people were shot at the birthday party on E. Commerce St. at approximately 11:40 p.m. on Saturday. Two people from Bridgeton were killed at the scene, and another died at a Camden hospital on Monday as a result of the shooting. None of the 11 other people who were injured in the shooting are believed to have life-threatening injuries, according to the New Jersey State Police.
The authorities have made two arrests as part of their investigation into the incident — including one of a potential suspect.
Kevin Dawkins, a 36-year-old Bridgeton native, was arrested in the wee hours of Sunday morning. He was found laying down next to a tree with a gun in his hand, and he was initially charged with gun possession crimes both at the party and at the scene of his arrest. Court documents show that Dawkins was both holding and discharging his weapon at the party, but prosecutors didn’t accuse Dawkins of shooting anyone in those documents.
Darrell Dawkins, a 30-year-old Bridgeton native who allegedly hosted the party, was also arrested on gun possession charges. However, he isn’t believed to be a suspect in the shooting, as his weapon was found in the trunk of his car that was parked on the property where the shooting took place. Investigators obtained a search warrant for the property that included vehicles.
It’s currently unclear if Kevin and Darrell Dawkins are related, but they do share the same E. Commerce St. address. That address is a few miles away from the house where the shooting took place.
New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal said on Sunday that he anticipates more arrests will be made as a result of Saturday’s shooting. At this time, the investigation into the shooting is still ongoing, but the Attorney General was able to confirm that it was a “targeted attack” on Sunday.
“Based on our preliminary assessment, here’s what we know: This was not a random act of violence,” Attorney General Grewal said. “This was a targeted attack. … While hundreds fled that party and ran from danger, our state troopers ran towards it. Their bravery, their hard work helped to quickly restore order and allowed medical staff to treat the wounded.”
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