2 arrested in N.J. schoolyard deaths By JEFFREY GOLD, Associated Press Writer

2 arrested in N.J. schoolyard deaths By JEFFREY GOLD, Associated Press Writer
2 hours, 11 minutes ago



NEWARK, N.J. - A 15-year-old boy and a man were in custody and facing murder charges Thursday in the execution-style killings of three college students and wounding of another in a school yard shooting.

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The teenager was arrested Wednesday night, and the 28-year-old surrendered Thursday, authorities said.

"We believe that others were involved in this heinous crime," prosecutor Paula Dow said. "We're looking for them."

Mayor Cory A. Booker said fingerprint and ballistics evidence tied the man, Jose Carranza, to the crime. Carranza turned himself in on three counts of first degree murder, one count of attempted murder and other charges.

The teen, whose name was not released because of his age, was arrested on the same charges, authorities said.

Booker said Carranza's lawyer, Felix Lopez Montalvo, called Booker's office saying Carranza wanted to surrender directly to the mayor.

"I said simply, let's find a spot," Booker said.

A message left for Lopez was not immediately returned.

The four friends, ages 18 to 20, were attacked while they were talking outside an elementary school on Saturday night. Authorities have said robbery appeared to be the motive.

Three of the victims — Terrance Aeriel, 18, Dashon Harvey, 20; and Iofemi Hightower, 20 — were forced to kneel against a wall and were shot at close range. The fourth, 19-year-old Natasha Aeriel, Terrance Aeriel's sister, survived a wound to her head and is hospitalized.

Despite being under sedation for periods of time, Natasha Aeriel has been providing authorities with information about the shootings, the mayor said.

The killings brought unwanted publicity to the city, which has struggled for years with violent crime. Residents and law enforcement organizations have donated $150,000 to aid the victims' families and to fund a reward for information leading authorities to the killers.

All four victims were planning to attend Delaware State University this fall. Instead, three were to be buried Saturday in separate services.

A friend of the victims, Samantha Williams, said she was overwhelmed by news of an arrest.

"I can actually stop crying, I can sleep peacefully," said Williams, 18, of Orange.

(This version corrects Carranza's age, according to revised information from authorities.)