Middlesex County Prosecutor Andrew C. Carey and Chief Thomas Bryan of the Edison Police Department said that authorities are actively searching for a suspect in the fatal shooting of a Newark man, and the shooting of another man in the early morning hours of March 23rd.
According to officials, Andrew Harriot, “aka” Drew Cash, 26, of the Somerset section of Franklin Township, was charged with one count of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder in the first degree.
During the course of his crimes, Harriot fired the gun which killed the one man, and injured the second. Through an attorney, Harriot initially agreed to turn himself into police this past Sunday, but did not. Harriot remains at large and is considered armed and dangerous.
Anyone who is actively assisting Harris to avoid arrest, is subject to criminal liability and may be charged with a crime.
Police describe Harriot as a 26-year-old, 5’11” in height, weighs approximately 220 pounds and has a ski mask tattoo on the right side of his neck.
The shooting took place on March 23rd at approximately 1:56 am outside the Akbar Restaurant located on Cortland Street in Edison where a Reggae event was being held.
Officials say Nahshon Brown, 31, of Newark, was pronounced dead at the scene. Another 40-year-old man from Newark, was taken to Robert Wood Johnson Hospital and was treated for a gunshot wound. He has since been released from the hospital.
The Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office is still working in conjunction with the Edison Police Department, the Franklin Police Department, and other authorities to locate and apprehend Harriot.
Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Loren Long of the Edison Police Department at (732) 248-7531, or Detective Michael Connelly of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office at (732) 745-3254.
In addition, Crime Stoppers of Middlesex County Inc. is offering cash rewards to anyone who knows information concerning the whereabouts of Harriot and wants to notify authorities anonymously.
Callers may contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-939-9600 or may access the Crime Stoppers website at middlesextips.com. Text messages with information may also be sent to 274637 (CRIMES) with the keyword “midtip’’ followed by a message.
Those who call will be given instructions on how to collect rewards by using a numerical code that will be recognized by a local bank, which will pay the rewards following arrest of one or both individuals. Rewards also must be approved by Crime Stoppers of Middlesex County Inc.
As is the case with all criminal defendants, the charges against Harriot are merely accusations and he is presumed innocent until proven guilty.