A Rahway man has been arrested and charged in connection with a carjacking and a shooting at a crowded Linden park that occurred on the same day in April, authorities said.
According to investigators, Ryan Billups, 20, of Rahway, and another masked man allegedly approached a vehicle in the 100 block of East Gibbons Street during the early morning hours of April 15, ordered the driver out at gunpoint and fled in the stolen vehicle.
Authorities allege the stolen vehicle was later used in a shooting that evening. Shortly before 9 p.m., the men allegedly fired more than a dozen rounds toward a crowd gathered at a park in the 1000 block of Summit Terrace. No injuries were reported.
Following what police described as an extensive monthlong investigation, detectives identified Billups as a suspect in both incidents.
Billups was arrested May 28 at his home and was remanded to the Essex County Jail pending a court appearance.
“This was a complex and comprehensive investigation, and I am proud of the Officers and Detectives whose relentless efforts led to these charges,” Linden Police Chief David Hart said in a statement.
Billups is charged with carjacking and conspiracy to commit carjacking, two counts of unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and several counts of aggravated assault.