Four Arrested on Murder Charges in Deadly NJ Mall Carjacking
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ABC News(NEWARK, N.J.) — Nearly a week after a shopper was gunned down in a deadly carjacking at a New Jersey shopping mall garage, police arrested four men on charges of murder.
Dustin Friedland, 30, an attorney from Hoboken, was shot in the head on Dec. 15 in front of his wife after the couple loaded their car with holiday gifts at The Mall at Short Hills, about 12 miles west of Newark.
Three of the men arrested are from Newark and were identified as Karif Ford, 31, Besim Henry, 32, Kevin Roberts, 35. The fourth suspect, Hanif Thompson, 29, is from Irvington, N.J.
All four men are being held at the Essex County Correctional Facility on $2 million bail each. The men face charges of murder, felony murder, carjacking, conspiracy, possession of a weapon and possession of a weapon for unlawful purpose, Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn Murray said in a press conference on Saturday.
Police said in a news conference on Saturday morning that Friedland’s Range Rover may have been the motivation for the carjacking.
“It was old fashion police work combined with technology,” said Murray.
The stolen vehicle was found last week in an alley in Newark, about 10 miles from the mall.
Murray said all four arrived at the mall in a Suburban vehicle. After the carjacking, two left the scene in the Suburban and two left in the Range Rover. Murray added that it was unclear who fired the shots and wouldn’t comment on their relationship.
Murray said it was unclear when the four would appear in court because of the upcoming Christmas holiday but added it would likely be early next week.
The four men were being held on state murder charges, though it is possible that those charges could be upgraded to federal charges. If the charges are upgraded, the four men could potentially face the death penalty.
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