Two men charged with murder in North Arlington double homicide; two others also arrested
Prosecutors say four people were involved in a July 19 altercation that left two men dead near the North Arlington-Kearny border.
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Two men have been charged with murder and two others have been arrested following a North Arlington double homicide that left two men dead last month, the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office announced Tuesday.
Leibys A. Mercedes, 26, of Linden, and Lydell M. Mercedes, 24, of Linden, are each charged with two counts of murder, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and unlawful possession of a handgun. Leibys Mercedes also faces a charge of "certain persons not to possess a firearm."
Altray K. Brown, 33, of Irvington, and Yolanda K. Montgomery, 30, of Newark, were charged with two counts each of endangering an injured victim after investigators said they left the scene without reporting the shooting or helping the victims. Authorities also charged both with child endangerment after determining they fled with two children younger than 5 who were not secured in car seats, according to prosecutors.
RELATED: Two men die after gunfire erupts in North Arlington
The charges stem from a July 19 shooting near the intersection of Ridge Road and Belleville Turnpike, where Ridge Road becomes Kearny Avenue at the North Arlington-Kearny border. Police found Brian Dominick Lockett, 28, of North Arlington, and Ezequiel Aquino, 29, of Newark, suffering from gunshot wounds. Both men later died at University Hospital in Newark.
Investigators said the shooting occurred during an altercation between two small groups. Authorities say Leibys Mercedes was the shooter. Prosecutors said Leibys and Lydell Mercedes fled together in one vehicle, while Brown and Montgomery left in another vehicle with the two young children.
Brown and Montgomery were arrested July 22 in Plainfield and later released pending further court proceedings. Lydell Mercedes was arrested July 31 during a traffic stop in East Brunswick, while Leibys Mercedes was arrested Aug. 3 in Newark. Both men remain jailed pending their first appearances in Bergen County Superior Court.
