By: Richard L. Smith
Four people have been charged in connection with a double homicide that occurred last month near the North Arlington and Kearny border, according to information released by the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office.
Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrests of Altray K. Brown, 33, of Irvington; Leibys A. Mercedes, 26, of Linden; Lydell M. Mercedes, 24, of Linden; and Yolanda K. Montgomery, 30, of Newark, following a joint investigation by the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office and the North Arlington Police Department.
The investigation stems from a shooting reported at approximately 8:37 p.m. on July 19 near the intersection of Ridge Road and Belleville Turnpike, where Ridge Road becomes Kearny Avenue at the border of North Arlington and Kearny.
Responding officers, assisted by several neighboring law enforcement agencies, found Brian Dominick Lockett, 28, of North Arlington, and Ezequiel Aquino, 29, of Newark, both suffering from gunshot wounds.
The men were transported separately to University Hospital in Newark, where they were later pronounced dead.
Authorities said the shooting occurred during an altercation involving two small groups of people.
According to investigators, Leibys A. Mercedes was identified as the alleged shooter.
Detectives determined that after the gunfire, Leibys A. Mercedes and Lydell M. Mercedes fled the area together in one vehicle, while Brown and Montgomery left in a separate vehicle.
Prosecutors said Brown and Montgomery allegedly fled with two children under the age of 5 who were not secured in car seats.
Authorities also allege that all four individuals left the scene without contacting law enforcement or attempting to assist the wounded victims.
Brown and Montgomery were arrested on July 22 during the execution of a court-authorized search warrant at a residence in Plainfield.
Brown was charged with two counts of endangering an injured victim and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child. Montgomery faces the same charges involving the injured victims, along with two counts of endangering the welfare of a child.
Both appeared in Bergen County Superior Court on July 30 and were released pending further court proceedings.
Investigators later obtained arrest warrants for Leibys A. Mercedes and Lydell M. Mercedes.
Both were charged with two counts of murder, as well as weapons-related offenses. Leibys A. Mercedes also faces an additional charge prohibiting certain persons from possessing firearms.
Lydell M. Mercedes was arrested without incident during a routine traffic stop by the East Brunswick Police Department on July 31 after officers discovered the active warrant.
He was transferred to Bergen County authorities and remains held at the Bergen County Jail pending a court appearance.
On August 3, detectives from the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office and the North Arlington Police Department located and arrested Leibys A. Mercedes in Newark.
He was also remanded to the Bergen County Jail pending his first appearance in Bergen County Superior Court.
All charges are accusations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.