A man charged with attempted murder after allegedly firing a handgun during a mass shooting at a Cumberland County party that killed three and wounded 11 will remain jailed pending trial, a judge ruled Monday.
New Jersey State Police responded to gunfire at a property on East Commerce Street in Fairfield Township around 11:30 p.m. on May 22. Several hundred people had gathered there for a birthday party.
Asia Hester, 25, Kevin Elliott, 30, and Brailyn Holmes, 19, died of gunshot wounds.
No one has been charged in the killings and no motive has been revealed. Police describe the incident as a targeted attack, but have not said who was targeted.
Kevin K. Dawkins, 36, of Fairfield Township, allegedly fired a handgun following the initial burst of gunfire. Prosecutors have not accused him of striking anyone.
Forty-eight shell casings were recovered from the crime scene and 16 of them were linked to the weapon Dawkins allegedly fired, Assistant Prosecutor Charles Wettstein noted during Dawkins’ detention hearing.
Surveillance video from the home showed Dawkins exit the residence with a gun after the first shots were fired outside and fire about three rounds into the air, according to an affidavit of probable cause. He then allegedly walked to the right and fired again before walking out of view of the camera.
Hundreds of people were outside in front of the home when the initial volley of gunfire occurred, according to the video described in court, which shows people running for cover. About 10 people ran into the house, Wettstein said, and Dawkins can be seen coming outside and firing his gun over the crowd. He then disappears from view down the driveway. About a minute later, people run to take cover again, allegedly when Dawkins fired for a second time in the driveway.
Dawkins told police he found the weapon, described as a .40 caliber Glock with a high-capacity magazine, at the end of the driveway, but never fired it.
A witness, however, told a different story. The defendant’s step-brother, Darrell M. Dawkins, 31, of Fairfield, told police that he was talking to Kevin Dawkins in the driveway and that the man was upset because someone had just punched him, Wettstein said. Darrell Dawkins said he turned away from his brother for a moment, heard three gunshots and turned back to see him holding a gun.
Investigators works the scene of a shooting in Fairfield Township, N.J., Sunday, May 23, 2021. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)AP
Two hours after the shooting, Kevin Dawkins was arrested in a wooded area near an apartment complex in neighboring Bridgeton, where he was found “laying down beside a tree with the handgun clutched in his right hand,” police said.
Dawkins told police he arrived at the Fairfield party in the evening and emerged from the home to the sound of gunfire outside. He claimed he found the gun, then someone punched him, Wettstein said. He goes on to describe later walking into Bridgeton to the apartment complex where was arrested because he believed that was where the person who hit him lived. He didn’t find that person.
Dawkins was initially charged with various gun-possession offenses, including possession of a firearm by someone convicted of aggravated sexual assault, but the attempted murder charge was added last Friday.
“It’s the state’s position that the defendant fired this gun at least 16 times at the residence that was attended by hundreds of people,” Wettstein said. “He was upset by the fact that somebody had struck him. It’s the state’s position that he fired that gun as a result of being struck … an attempt to harm somebody and kill somebody through that conduct.”
In arguing for pre-trial detention, the prosecutor pointed to his prior record, which includes violent crime convictions, a prior conviction for possession of an assault firearm and time spent in prison.
Public defender Dinaz Akhtar told Superior Court Judge Cristen P. D’Arrigo that her client continues to deny the allegations.
“He denies that this was his gun,” she said, “and he denies up to today that he was involved in this homicide or this shooting at all. He denies ever shooting into a crowd of people. The facts as alleged by the state paint an incomplete picture of the chaos that actually occurred that night.”
In seeking his pre-trial release, Akhtar described her client as a life-long county resident who has maintained a job for several years. She said his prior criminal record involves charges from 15 years ago.
“He’s going to come to court and fight these charges, your honor.”
D’Arrigo was dubious about the claim that the gun didn’t belong to Dawkins.
Wettstein noted that the weapon had a 30-round capacity and contained 22 rounds when it was confiscated in Bridgeton. Since 16 shells from the gun were recovered at the crime scene, that means the weapon would have been reloaded after it was fired. Dawkins told police he was the only person in possession of that gun between the time he picked it up in Fairfield and when he was arrested with it in Bridgeton.
“He just happened to find that gun and have access to .40-caliber ammunition?” D’Arrigo said. “A little too coincidental … There is substantial evidence that the defendant was in possession of this firearm prior to the moment he alleges finding it in the driveway later.”
He found the allegation that Dawkins fired into a crowd of people troubling.
“That type of conduct is extremely reckless,” the judge said before ruling that he will remain jailed.
Dawkins is scheduled to return to court July 15 for a pre-indictment conference.
The birthday party was being held for Darrell M. Dawkins, who was arrested for unlawful possession of a firearm after a handgun was found in the trunk of his car. He was ordered jailed pending trial on that charge last week.
Weapons possession charges were announced last week against a third man, Larry McCrae, 39, of Bridgeton, after two guns were found in his car after the party. He’s due in court Wednesday for a detention hearing.
Online fundraisers have been created to help the families of two of the shooting victims, Brailyn Holmes and Asia Hester.
Authorities ask anyone who attended the event and may have cellphone footage from the party or the shooting itself to call the New Jersey State Police Bridgeton Station at 856-451-0101 or submit a tip via the Cumberland County Prosecutor’s Office tipline at www.njccpo.org/tips.
Police have established a database for witnesses to anonymously upload cellphone video captured during the incident.
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Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com.
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Man accused of firing 16 shots over crowd at birthday party must stay in jail, judge rules - NJ.com
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