Joseph Vega was arrested by the U.S. Marshals Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force in Georgia. He will be housed in Georgia pending extradition. Vega will be subject to a detention hearing upon his return to New Jersey.
July 3, 2024
SOUTH BRUNSWICK, NJ (MIDDLESEX)–Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone and Chief Raymond Hayducka of the South Brunswick Police Department announced today that a Bridgeton man was charged in connection with the fatal crash that occurred at the intersection of Route 1 and Ridge Road on April 12, 2024.
On April 12, 2024, at approximately 9:36 a.m., authorities responded to Route 1 and Ridge Road following the report of a crash. Upon their arrival, authorities located a tractor-trailer which had struck a passenger van in the intersection of Ridge Road and Route 1. The investigation revealed that the passenger van then collided with two other vehicles. Both the tractor-trailer and passenger van caught fire. The three people that were in the van were pronounced deceased at the scene; the driver, Charisse Nelson-Bailey, 24, of Princeton Junction, and both passengers Daniel Vida, 28, of Princeton Junction, and Maria Passalaris, 25, of Skillman.
An investigation led by Officer Bryan Sites of the South Brunswick Police Department and Sergeant Jonathan Berman of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office determined that at the time of the collision, the tractor-trailer driven by Joseph Vega, 43, of Bridgeton, was transporting an oversized concrete load when it failed to stop for a red light at the intersection resulting in the fatal collision.
On May 29, 2024, Vega was charged with three counts of first-degree Aggravated Manslaughter and three counts of second-degree Vehicular Homicide. Today, July 3, 2024, Vega was arrested by the U.S. Marshals Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force in Georgia. He will be housed in Georgia pending extradition. Vega will be subject to a detention hearing upon his return to New Jersey.
The investigation is active and continuing. Anyone with information is asked to call Officer Sites of the South Brunswick Police Department at 732-329-4646 or Sergeant Berman of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office at 732-745-4328.
As is the case with all criminal defendants, the charges against Vega are merely accusations and he is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Fatal Crash in South Brunswick Under Investigation
July 3, 2024
MANCHESTER, NJ (OCEAN)–Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer and Manchester Township Police Chief Antonio Ellis announced that Maxwell Johnston, 35, of Manchester Township, has been charged with Murder, in connection with the shooting death of Gabriella Caroleo, 25, of Seaside Heights, in Manchester Township on June 27, 2024. Johnston was also charged with Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose, Unlawful Possession of a Weapon, and being a Certain Person Not to Possess a Weapon, all arising out of the same incident.
On June 27, 2024, at approximately 4:55 p.m., Officers from the Manchester Township Police Department responded to the area of Ridgeway Road and Hope Chapel Road in reference to a 911 call reporting a gunshot victim. Responding Officers discovered Ms. Caroleo with a gunshot wound to her stomach. Ms. Caroleo was airlifted to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, where she succumbed to her injuries.
A thorough and extensive investigation conducted by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit, Manchester Township Police Department, and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, has revealed that Johnston was the individual responsible for the death of Ms. Caroleo.
Johnston has not yet been taken into custody, and is considered a fugitive from justice. As such, a warrant for his arrest has been issued and his name has been entered in the National Crime Information Center database.
“We have been working diligently with our law enforcement partners to locate Johnson. Great teamwork has been exhibited by all of the respective law enforcement agencies and officers involved in this investigation. We are focused on finding Johnston and bring him into custody. Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Maxwell Johnston should contact Detective Denis Mitchell of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office at 732-929-2027, extension 2476, or Detective Richard Conklin of the Manchester Township Police Department at 732-657-2009, extension 4211,” Prosecutor Billhimer stated.
Prosecutor Billhimer and Chief Ellis commend the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office High Tech Crime Unit, Manchester Township Police Department, Manchester Township Police Department Detective Bureau, Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, and United States Marshals Service, for their continuing and combined efforts in connection with this investigation.
The charges referenced above are merely accusations and the press and public are reminded that all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
R.P.C. 3.6(b)(6).
Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer and Manchester Township Police Chief Antonio Ellis announced that Maxwell Johnston, 35, of Manchester Township, has been charged with Murder, in connection with the shooting death of Gabriella Caroleo, 25, of Seaside Heights, in Manchester Township on June 27, 2024. Johnston was also charged with Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose, Unlawful Possession of a Weapon, and being a Certain Person Not to Possess a Weapon, all arising out of the same incident.
July 3, 2024
LAWRENCE TOWNSHIP, NJ (MERCER)–The New Jersey State Park Police report that police, Lawrence Township Fire Department, EMS and the Trenton Fire Department’s Water Rescue Team recovered a body from an area of the Delaware & Raritan Canal in Lawrence Township, Mercer County. A medical examiner responded to the scene. No further details are available at this time. The body was discovered around 9:15 a.m. as reported from an intial call to Lawrence Police Department and was located 1/2 mile north of Whitehead Road.
July 3, 2024
TRENTON, NJ (MERCER)–The Mercer County Prosecutors Office confirms that thirty-year-old Samier Vincent, 30, of Trenton died on June 27, 2024 as a result of a shooting on June 23, 2024.
It was reported that sometime after 1:30 a.m. on June 23, 2024 Trenton Police responded to the area of 100 Block of Walnut Avenue for a multiple shooting with three people shot. The victims were transported to Capital Health Regional Medical Center with critical injuries. No other information was available about the shooting.
Trenton Police and Mercer County Prosecutors Office are investigating the shooting.
UPDATE:
Trenton Man Arrested and Charged with Fatal Shooting
Names of the 2024 Trenton Homicide Victims
- 01/13/2024 Eduardo Lopez-Cruz, 38, of Trenton, Shooting
- 01/16/2024 Stefon Locke, 33, Shooting on 1/16 died 2/8/2024
- 02/28/2024 Shawn Moore, 45, Trenton, Shooting
- 03/19/2024 Donnell Jenkins age 52, Stabbing
- 04/04/2024 Jose Alfredo Azcona Garcia, 46, of Trenton, Shooting
- 05/01/2024 Jerome Francis, 43, of Hamilton
- 05/01/2024 Chevaughn Fagan, 28, of Trenton
- 05/19/2024 Stephon Fisher, 18, of Trenton, Shooting
- 05/26/2024 Dwayne Penix, 20, of Trenton, Shooting
- 06/11/2024 Johnathan Applegate
- 06/23/2024 Samier Vincent, 30, of Trenton, Shooting, died 6/27/2024
