Three men have been indicted in connection with the shooting deaths of two men, one of them a Middletown resident.
Antonio Suarez-Perez, aka “Mingo” Eric Figueras, aka “Pun” Samson Hearn, aka “Freedom” On July 8, a Monmouth County grand jury returned an indictment charging Antonio Suarez-Perez, aka “Mingo,” 21, and Eric Figueras, aka “Pun,” 25, both of Red Bank, and Samson Hearn, aka “Freedom,” 27, of Fair Haven, in connection with the Feb. 10 shooting deaths of Sidney Wakefield, 26, of Long Branch, and Joseph Fann, 23, of Middletown, according to the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office.
The indictment charges Suarez-Perez and Figueras with two counts of first- degree murder, two counts of first-degree felony murder, one count of first-degree armed robbery, one count of second- degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and one count of unlawful possession of a weapon.
The indictment also charges Suarez-Perez with fourthdegree tampering with physical evidence. Figueras is also charged with fourth-degree obstructing the administration of justice, second- degree hindering the apprehension of another and fourth-degree tampering with physical evidence.
The indictment charges Hearn with two counts of firstdegree felony murder and one count each of first-degree armed robbery, second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, second- degree unlawful possession of a weapon, fourth-degree obstructing the administration of justice, and second- degree hindering the apprehension of another.
According to a press release from the Prosecutor’s Office, shortly after 1:35 a.m. on Feb. 10, officers from the Red Bank Police Department were dispatched to the vicinity of Locust Avenue as a result of multiple 911 calls.
Upon arrival at Locust Avenue, the police officers discovered Fann inside a car. Police also discovered Wakefield on the corner of Locust Avenue and Leighton Place.
Both men were deceased and appeared to have sustained was registered to Wakefield.
Detectives from the Prosecutor’s Office and the Red Bank Police Department began a joint investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths of the two men.
One of the responding Red Bank police officers, Patrolman James DePonte, observed a dark blue Audi with three individuals departing the area where the two dead men were found as he responded to the scene.
After securing the scene and waiting for backup to arrive, DePonte went in search of the Audi. Within minutes, DePonte located the Audi traveling northbound on Route 35 in the vicinity of Twinbrooks Avenue in Middletown Township.
A motor vehicle stop of the Audi was conducted with the assistance of the Middletown Township Police Department. Suarez-Perez, Figueras and Hearn were in the car. The three men were transported to Red Bank police headquarters and subsequently charged for their roles in the double homicide.
According to a press release from the Prosecutor’s Office, the investigation revealed that all five men were acquainted and that the three men in the Audi had a chance encounter with the two victims at a local gas station on the night of Feb. 9.
The investigation further revealed that there was an alleged confrontation between Suarez-Perez, Figueras and the two victims approximately two hours later in the area of Locust Avenue during which both victims were fatally shot, the press release states.
While detectives were investigating the shootings, several concerned citizens observed a handgun at the intersection of Twinbrooks Avenue and Route 35 in Middletown. The handgun was recovered and turned over to police.
Hearn and Figueras are being held at the Monmouth County Correctional Institution, Freehold Township, in lieu of $2 million bail. Perez is being held at the Monmouth
County Correctional Institution in lieu of $3,372,500 bail. If convicted of either murder or felony murder, the men face a minimum mandatory sentence of a 30-year state prison term, during which time they would be ineligible for parole and a maximum potential sentence of life imprisonment. A sentence of life imprisonment would be subject to the No Early Release Act, which means that they would have to serve 85 percent of the sentence imposed before
becoming eligible for parole. For parole calculation purposes, the New Jersey Parole Board considers a sentence of life imprisonment to be equivalent to a term of 75 years. Eighty-five percent of a life term would be approximately 63 years, nine months and three days.
If convicted of armed robbery, the men face a maximum potential custodial sentence of up to a 20-year state prison term, which would also be subject to the No Early Release Act.
If convicted of possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, hindering the apprehension of another or unlawful possession of a weapon, the men would face a maximum potential custodial sentence of up to a 10-year state prison term. If convicted of tampering with physical evidence or obstructing the administration of justice, the men would face a maximum potential custodial term of up to 18 months.
Despite these charges, every defendant is presumed innocent, unless and until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, following a trial at which the defendant has all of the trial rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and state law.