Thread: NJ: Gang Members On Trial and Sharpshooters On The Roof

This was a pretty fightful case here in NJ. A woman related to a witness was shot and killed with a spray a bullets hitting her house. They even had sharpshooters on the courthouse roof on Monday. They convicted the gang members and sentenced for 30 years.

Some pictures on the bottom link.

Three convicted in barbershop murder
By Kathleen Hopkins • TOMS RIVER BUREAU • November 18, 2008

TOMS RIVER — Sheriff's sharpshooters guarded the perimeter of the Ocean County Justice Complex Monday as a jury found three men guilty in the brazen, gang-related murder of a Lakewood man in a crowded barbershop — a case that gripped the courthouse community with fear of intimidation and retaliation for more than a month.

After a trial that began before Superior Court Judge Wendel E. Daniels on Oct. 14, a jury of seven women and five men announced about 3:30 p.m. — near the end of its second day of deliberations — that it had found Tyleek Baker, James Russell and Jamal Scott guilty of all charges related to the shooting death of Jose Francisco Olivares.

Olivares, 21, was shot five times inside the Man, Woman and Child barbershop on First Street in Lakewood about 4:30 p.m. on Feb. 7, 2006.

The three defendants each were charged with Olivares' murder and with conspiring to murder him. Baker, the gunman, also was charged with possessing a handgun for an unlawful purpose and unlawfully possessing the weapon.

Following the jury verdict, Baker pleaded guilty to another charge of possession of a handgun by a convicted person — he has a 2001 conviction for possessing narcotics with the intent to distribute them.

Each of the defendants face 30 years to life in prison for the murder when they are sentenced by Daniels on Jan. 30.

Attorneys for each of the defendants vowed to appeal. Paul Bergrin, Baker's attorney, said he respects the jury's decision, and George Somers, Scott's attorney, said he was surprised by it. Edward Washburne, Russell's attorney, declined to comment beyond saying he would appeal the verdict.

The perception of intimidation and retaliation loomed large in the case. The murder trial started just hours after the mother of the girlfriend of one of the state's key witnesses was shot to death in her Lakewood home. Jury selection began days after the home of the parents of a cooperating codefendant in the case was sprayed with gunfire.

Those facts, as well as allegations that the defendants are members of the Bloods street gang, were kept hidden from jurors who served on the case, although the street names of the defendants — "Respect" for Baker, "Gotti" for Russell and "High Five" for Scott were revealed in trial testimony.

Ocean County Prosecutor Marlene Lynch Ford said after the verdict that she hopes it sends the following message to the public: "We are intent on pursuing all criminal conduct that is gang-related to see that justice is done."

The jury forewoman announced the panel's verdict in a courtroom packed with law enforcement, as well as some relatives and friends of the defendants.

Baker, 28, of Manchester, leaned back in his chair at the defense table and blew bubbles with his chewing gum. Scott, 22, of Lakewood grimaced. Russell, 23, of Lakewood, currently serving a 22-year prison term for his role in a 2004 home-invasion robbery, displayed a hand gesture identified by law-enforcement officials as a sign of the Bloods.

"I'm good, man. I mean, look at me," Russell said as the sheriff's officers were shackling him.

There were no relatives of the victim in the courtroom to hear the verdict, nor were they in attendance during the lengthy trial. Ford said fear may have kept them away.

"There still is the perception that anyone associated with (the trial) is in danger of retaliation," Ford said.

During the trial, witnesses presented by assistant prosecutors William Porter and Steven Cucci testified that Baker walked into the crowded barbershop and shot Olivares five times as the victim sat next to a 14-year-old boy getting a hair cut. The witnesses said Baker was flanked by Russell and Scott, who stood with their arms folded in front of them and remained emotionless when the shots rang out.

One witness was Christian Vivar Granados, who identified Baker as the gunman in a 911 call and pointed out each of the defendants in the courtroom.

The woman who was shot to death at the onset of the trial, Athelma Vasquez, 55, of Lakewood, was the mother of Vivar Granados' girlfriend. Lakewood resident Lee Reeves, 20, was arrested Monday night and charged with her murder and the attempted murder of Vasquez’s daughter and Vivar Granados, the daughter's boyfriend.

Another witness who testified against the defendants in the barbershop murder was Daniel Thomas, 21, of Lakewood. Thomas, a codefendant, initially had been charged with murder, but he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit aggravated assault and is expected to receive a probationary term in exchange for his cooperation.

It was the home of Thomas' parents that was targeted with gunfire in September, days before the jury selection began.

Because of the incidents of seeming intimidation, Daniels at the onset of the trial ordered that no pictures be taken of witnesses, for their own protection, and that heightened security, including intensive searches of everyone entering his courtroom, remain in effect throughout the trial.

Sharpshooters on the ground and on a rooftop adjacent to the justice complex were among dozens of sheriff officers stationed outside the building Monday to ensure order in the aftermath of the verdict.

Kathleen Hopkins: (732) 557-5732 or Khopkins@app.com

UPDATE: Man accused of the killing of witness held on $2 million dollar bail.
http://www.app.com/article/20081118/NEW ... GECAROUSEL


http://www.app.com/article/20081118/NEW ... /newsfront

Why isn't our National Guard dealing with these Insurgents, instead of being over in Iraq?

Originally Posted by Bowman

Why isn't our National Guard dealing with these Insurgents, instead of being over in Iraq?

That may have been Bush's idea.