Mercer Times

Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability announced on April 7, 2025, that four individuals have been sentenced in connection to the events leading to the shooting of a New Jersey State Police detective at a mobile home park in Salem County.

Sentences were issued by New Jersey Superior Court Judge Russell A. DePersia on April 1, 2025. Markese Rogers of Pittsgrove received a five-year state prison term. Herbert Noel Lazu, along with Imari Lazu, both from Bridgeton, were each sentenced to three-year terms. Ashley Acevedo Diaz, also from Bridgeton, received two years of probation, with a requirement to serve nine months in county jail. Meanwhile, Shakeem Waters, another defendant from Bridgeton, is pending sentencing.

A plea agreement led to several of the defendants admitting to involvement in conspiracy and other charges. Rogers, Waters, and Noel Lazu acknowledged conspiracy to commit third-degree aggravated assault, while Acevedo Diaz pleaded guilty to third-degree riot. Imari Lazu had previously pleaded guilty to second-degree witness tampering. These admissions are linked to actions around the shooting of NJSP Detective Richard Hershey in 2020 at Pittsgrove’s Harding Woods mobile home park.

Attorney General Platkin emphasized the importance of maintaining public safety and stated, "Troopers with the New Jersey State Police play a crucial role in maintaining public safety across New Jersey, and we will not allow the public servants who do this essential work to be targeted, attacked, or harmed by criminals."

According to court documents, Detective Hershey was shot and wounded on April 25, 2020, while investigating a home invasion. Five suspects had forcibly entered a residence in Pittsgrove, severely injuring a woman and stealing her belongings. Later, while conducting interviews, Detective Hershey encountered a group armed with weapons intending to attack, leading to a confrontation where he was shot.

The individuals involved in the shooting have also been sentenced. Tremaine Hadden was convicted and received a 37-year sentence, while Najzeir Hutchings and Kareen Warner received prison terms after pleading guilty to aggravated assault.

The shooting investigation was carried out by multiple law enforcement units, including the New Jersey State Police and the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability. Defense attorneys representing the sentenced individuals were also named in court records.