2005 Media Releases:

CAMDEN COUNTY PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE
VINCENT P. SARUBBI, CAMDEN COUNTY PROSECUTOR
MEDIA   INFORMATION

May 28, 2005

Camden County Prosecutor Vincent P. Sarubbi and Camden Police Chief Edwin J. Figueroa reported today that three Camden men have been arrested and charged in connection with the shooting that killed Nadirah Hinson, 25, on Saturday, May 21, 2005, in Camden, N.J.

Charged with Murder in Hinson's death are Juan Cotto, 26, of the 500 block of Roberts Street, and Eric Nunez, 23, of the 1600 block of Norris Street.

Rasheef A. Wise, 21, of the 1500 block of Mount Ephraim Avenue, is charged with the Attempted Murders of Cotto and Nunez, as well as weapons offenses.

Investigation indicates the following:

Wise confronted Cotto on the morning of May 21 in the area of 4th and Royden streets, accused Cotto of damaging the vehicle of a relative of Wise's several months earlier, and demanded that Cotto pay to repair the car. They argued and then had a physical altercation.

Later in the day, Wise was standing on 5th Street between Pine and Line streets.

Cotto and Nunez arrived in a white four-door sedan at the area of 5th and Pine streets looking for Wise. At approximately 4:30 p.m., the vehicle stopped on 5th Street just south of where Wise was standing. It is alleged that Cotto and Nunez exited the vehicle, both wielding firearms - Cotto with a .38-caliber handgun and Nunez with an AK-47 assault rifle.

Wise recognized Cotto and Nunez and observed that they were armed. It is alleged that Wise pulled a 9 mm handgun from his waistband and fired toward Cotto and Nunez. It is further alleged that Cotto and Nunez returned fire. Wise ran north on 5th and turned left onto Line.

Hinson was driving her Mitsubishi Mirage east on Line. After braking for a stop sign at 5th Street, she began to continue on Line Street. An AK-47 round that Nunez allegedly fired toward Wise missed him, pierced the passenger side window of Hinson's car and struck her, killing her. Her car rolled approximately 60 feet farther down Line Street and crashed into the front steps of a home.

Hinson's three sons, all under age 10, were in the car but sustained no injuries. Neither Hinson nor the vehicle is believed to be an intended target. Nonetheless, under New Jersey law, a person who attempts to harm or kill someone and mistakenly harms or kills another is liable to the same degree as if he had struck the intended target. This legal principle is known as "the rule of transferred intent," Sarubbi explained.

All three defendants are being held in the Camden County Correctional Facility pending arraignments expected to be scheduled on Tuesday, May 31, 2005, at the Camden County Hall of Justice, 5th Street and Mickle Boulevard, Camden.

Sarubbi and Figueroa thanked Senior Investigator Martin Wolf of the Camden County Prosecutor's Office and Camden Police Detective Orlando Perez, as well numerous other detectives and supervisors from the Prosecutor's Office and Camden Police Department who pursued the investigation tirelessly over the past week.

"I wish there was a way to undo this senseless tragedy, but obviously that is not possible," Sarubbi said. "My heart goes out to Ms. Hinson's young sons, and to the rest of her family and her friends. I hope and pray that these arrests will provide some small sense of satisfaction amid their grief.

"These arrests should send a strong message to anyone who thinks they can engage in senseless street violence that we will use all our resources and talent to take dangerous individuals off the street and bring them to justice. This is not the wild, wild West. Something like this should never happen - not in Camden or anywhere else."

"A young woman in the prime of life is gone, and three small children have lost their mom," Chief Figueroa said. "There are three people in jail who will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. No one is a winner here. Residents of the City of Camden should know that we will pursue violent individuals and bring them to justice - no matter who they are and no matter where they are."

All persons charged with criminal offenses are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.