Three men have been charged with murder in the killing of a 9-year-old Bridgeton girl fatally shot in her bed by a stray bullet.
Michael Elliott, Leroy Frazier III and Charles Gamble are charged with murder, conspiracy to commit murder and weapons offenses, Cumberland County Prosecutor Jennifer Webb-McRae announced Friday.
At least one handgun was also recovered.
Jennifer Trejo was sleeping in her Church Street home when a bullet from a shooting on Elmer Street went through her bedroom wall at about 12:30 a.m. July 17.
The arrests were made without incident, Bridgeton Police Chief Michael Gaimari Sr. said.
Frazier, 20, was arrested at his residence on Irvington Avenue in Bridgeton, the chief said. Elliott, 25, was arrested at work in Bridgeton, where he also lives. Gamble, 18, was arrested at his Salem home.
Warranted searches of both Elliott’s and Frazier’s homes resulted in the recovery of at least one gun, a “substantial amount” of suspected heroin and a small amount of crack cocaine, Gaimari said.
Elliott was additionally charged with possession of a weapon and possession of heroin. Frazier was additionally charged with possession of crack cocaine.
All three are in the Cumberland County Jail.
“The investigation remains open and active,” Gaimari said. “Nothing will bring Jennifer back, but the fact that those who we believe are responsible are off the street helps reassure the public that these actions will not be tolerated and those responsible held accountable.”
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Both McRae and Gaimari lauded the efforts of both their respective staffs including prosecutors, detectives and officers from different units within their agencies who have been working tirelessly on the investigation.
No further information will be released at this time since the investigation remains ongoing, the two said. They indicated there could be additional arrests and/or charges.
Anyone with information pertaining to the investigation to asked to contact Bridgeton Detective Mark Yoshioka at 856-392-9031 of Prosecutor’s Office Detective Harvey Calixto at 856-207-2999. Information may also be texted anonymously to tip411 (847411) beginning the text with Bridgeton.
