Yesterday, the principal suspect in the execution-style triple murder turned himself in to Newark Mayor Cory Booker. Booker was at a press conference to announce that another suspect, a 15-year-old, had been arrested when he learned that Jose Carranza would only turn himself in to Booker. Carranza's fingerprint was found on a beer bottle at the scene of the crime, and his photograph was picked out of a photo array by the shootings' only survivor, 19-year-old Natasha Aerial. Her 18-year-old brother Terrance and friends Iofemi Hightower and Dashon Harvey, both 20, were killed during the Saturday killings.
Authorities believe that Carranza fired at least one of the fatal shots, and they looking for at least three others suspects, one adult and two teens. Carranza, who had previously been charged with aggravated assault and raping a child over a four-year period (starting when the child was 4) and was awaiting trial in both cases, will likely be arraigned today, with charges including three murder counts, attempted murder, and robbery. He is being held on $1 million bail. Essex County Prosecutor Paula Dow said that she would try the 15-year-old suspect as an adult.
Carranza's surrender was rather dramatic: Upon learning that the suspect would surrender, Booker quickly ended a press conference and then met a lawyer who had brokered the surrender. He met Carranza, who wore a "Hulkmania" t-shirt, on a street near Newark City Hall; Booker recounted, "I had absolutely nothing to say to this individual. He said no words whatsoever." You can also see video of Booker here.
Update: Carranza, a Peruvian immigrant, has pleaded not guilty, and the police have arrested a third suspect (a teenager).
Photograph of Carranza's wanted poster by Mike Derer/AP
