PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE MIDDLESEX COUNTY PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE

Police identify murder suspect from Akbar shooting; man is still at large

 

The Edison Police Department said 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 23 outside the Akbar restaurant in Edison.

Andrew Harriot, “aka” Drew Cash, 26, of the Somerset section of Franklin Township, is charged with one count of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder in the first degree, according to information provided by Middlesex County Prosecutor Andrew C. Carey and Chief Thomas Bryan of the Edison Police Department.

During the course of his crimes, Harriot allegedly fired the gun which killed the one man, and injured the second. Through an attorney, Harriot initially agreed to turn himself into police on March 31, but did not, according to officials. 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.

Harriot is 26 years of age, stands 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 23 at approximately 1:56 a.m. outside the restaurant on Cortland Street where a Reggae event was being held.

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 in New Brunswick and was treated for a gunshot wound. He has since been released from the hospital, officials said.

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 should 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.