Third Individual Arrested in Connection with Fairfield Township Mass Shooting

By: Reney Waters, Follow South Jersey Bridgeton City Intern

Photo: 6ABC in Philadelphia

BRIDGETON, N.J. — A third arrest has been made after the mass shooting in Fairfield Township in which three people died and 11 others were injured last month.

Larry McCrae, 39, has been arrested on gun possession charges, according to FOX29. McCrae’s role in in the shooting is still under investigation, and he will be held in the Cumberland County Jail for the time being.

Last month, Kevin Dawkins, a 36-year-old Bridgeton resident, was found laying next to a tree with a gun in his hand hours after the shooting took place. He was arrested on gun charges at that time, and authorities have since served Dawkins an additional charge of attempted murder.

Darrell Dawkins, a 30-year-old Bridgeton native who hosted the party, was also arrested on gun possession charges. However, Darrell is not believed to be one of the shooters. His weapon was found in the trunk of his car after investigators obtained a search warrant for the scene that included all cars parked on the premises. It’s unclear whether or not Kevin and Darrell Dawkins are related, but they do share the same E. Commerce St. Address, which is located a few miles away from the scene of the shooting.

Two people — Asia Hester, 25, and Kevin Elliot, 30 — were killed at the scene of the shooting. Brailyn Paris Holmes, 19, died at a Camden hospital two days after the shooting, and she was laid to rest at the Fennell and Blue Funeral Chapel on Tuesday evening.

“Based on our preliminary assessment, here’s what we know: This was not a random act of violence,” Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal said at a press briefing following the shooting. “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.”

Police are still investigating the mass shooting, which took place at a birthday party in Fairfield Township. Authorities are still seeking any videos or photos that people who attended the party may have as part of the investigation of the mass shooting.

Anyone who wishes to submit evidence to be used in the investigation into the mass shooting can do so anonymously by clicking 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 on its website.


This article was produced by a Follow South Jersey news intern thanks to a grant provided by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation through the New Jersey Health Initiatives program to create hyper-local news to meet the informational and health needs of the City of Bridgeton, N.J.