Third suspect charged in Newark schoolyard slayings

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Jose Lachira Carranza, who surrendered to authorities on Thursday in connection with the triple homicide in Newark, is lead out of the Essex County Courthouse today.

A third suspect, a 16-year-old boy, has been charged in connection with the execution-style killings of three college students Saturday night in a Newark schoolyard, authorities said.

The boy was removed from a home in Morristown earlier this afternoon and was formally charged a short time ago, the Essex County Prosecutor's Office said.

More details will be announced in the next hour, during a prayer vigil at the site of the shootings.

Investigators believe up to five people participated in the crime, which was chilling enough to thrust New Jersey's largest city into the national spotlight. Jose Lachira Carranza, a 28-year-old illegal immigrant from Peru and a 15-year-old boy are already in custody.

Authorities are still looking to question one more adult and one juvenile, law enforcement officials with knowledge of the investigation said.

This morning, Lachira Carranza, who surrendered to authorities Thursday, pleaded not guilty to three counts of murder, attempted murder, robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery and weapons offenses.

During the proceedings at the Essex County Courthouse in Newark, Lachira Carranza's lawyer, Felix Lopez Montalvo, said the defendant does not have a Social Security number and is in the United States illegally.

"My client has no documentation," Lopez Montalvo.

In a news conference afterward, Essex County Prosecutor Paula Dow and other officials would not comment about whether prosecutors had reported Lachira Carranza's illegal status to federal authorities after his two previous arrests, which include a charge of child rape.

The federal government encourages, but does not require, local authorities to contact Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents when they arrest someone who appears to be in the country illegally.

Since Lachira Carranza's surrender on Thursday, federal immigration authorities have placed a detainer on him, requiring that immigration authorities be notified if he is ever released from custody, said Adam Puharic, a spokesman for the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency.

Dow, meanwhile, said New Jersey would retain jurisdiction over Lachira Carranza throughout this criminal case, and until he finishes his prison sentence if he is convicted.

"He is not leaving our system until this matter is adjudicated," she said. "We have him and he is ours."

Dow would not discuss Lachira Carranza's relationship to the 15-year-old arrested Wednesday night or the others being sought.

Authorities believe five people were present during the robbery and shootings that killed Terrance Aeriel, 18, and 20-year-olds Dashon Harvey and Iofemi Hightower, on the playground of the Mount Vernon School in Newark's Ivy Hill section.

A fourth victim, Natasha Aeriel, was critically wounded and remains hospitalized under police protection.

All four were planning to attend Delaware State University in the fall.

Authorities have said Natasha Aeriel helped identify at least one of the suspects.

Lachira Carranza, a stocky, bushy-haired man, showed no emotion today as he was arraigned in a courtroom brimming with television cameras, victim's family members and elected officials, including Dow, Essex County Sheriff Armando Fontoura and Newark Mayor Cory Booker.

He wore an orange jail-issued jumpsuit and handcuffs and communicated via a Spanish-speaking translator. He is being held on $1 million bail.

Lachira Carranza, an Orange resident, is married and has a daughter described as 1 or 2 years old. He was facing two sets of criminal charges even before police identified him as a suspect in the Newark triple murder.

According to court records, he was charged with aggravated assault and weapons counts stemming from a bar fight last October. In the more serious case, when he was charged as Jose Lachira, he is accused of repeatedly raping a girl over a four-year period.

The assaults began when the child was almost 5 years old, according to an indictment handed up last month. The alleged attacks ended in January. Lachira Carranza was free on bail and awaiting trial in both criminal cases when he surrendered Thursday.

Jose Larchira Carranza's mother in court today for her son's arraignment.

Lachira Carranza will be held in protective custody in the Essex County Jail. The 15-year-old, whose name is being withheld by The Star-Ledger because of his age, is being held at an undisclosed juvenile detention center outside the county.

Dow, Fontoura, Booker and others met afterward with victims' family members, who left the courthouse without making comments to reporters. Dow said Booker presented them with a check to help with their funeral expenses.

Two people who sheriff's officers identified as the mother and the brother of the defendant were also in the courtroom. The mother, whose name was not immediately available, bowed her head and cried.

After the proceeding, the sheriff's department escorted them to their car through a throng of television cameras.

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2007/08/s...n_three_ne.html

[gabby4ever 1]

off with his head...or fry him

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

off with his head...or fry him

He has pleaded innocent. He isn't guilty yet, so relax.

[GaryC 7]

Ok then, if he is found guilty of raping the child and found guilty of the murders then fry him!!!

This is the part that should shame anyone connected to this:

According to court records, he was charged with aggravated assault and weapons counts stemming from a bar fight last October. In the more serious case, when he was charged as Jose Lachira, he is accused of repeatedly raping a girl over a four-year period.

The assaults began when the child was almost 5 years old, according to an indictment handed up last month. The alleged attacks ended in January. Lachira Carranza was free on bail and awaiting trial in both criminal cases when he surrendered Thursday.

Why in the sam hell didn't INS get this guy???? I don't care what your views on illegal immigration are, this is one that should not have been free!!!!

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

According to court records, he was charged with aggravated assault and weapons counts stemming from a bar fight last October. In the more serious case, when he was charged as Jose Lachira, he is accused of repeatedly raping a girl over a four-year period.

The assaults began when the child was almost 5 years old, according to an indictment handed up last month. The alleged attacks ended in January. Lachira Carranza was free on bail and awaiting trial in both criminal cases when he surrendered Thursday.

Why in the sam hell didn't INS get this guy???? I don't care what your views on illegal immigration are, this is one that should not have been free!!!!

Amen! Those kids might still be breathing today. Maybe their parents will sue the ####### out of the fcuking ICE for allowing this piece of scum to walk our streets. Fcuking garbage.

Edited August 11, 2007 by Mr. Big Dog

[JODO 2]

fcuking piece of s h*t.

Edited August 11, 2007 by JODO