North Arlington, NJ – Four people have been arrested in connection with a double homicide that left two men dead following a shooting in North Arlington, according to Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella.
Charged in the investigation are Leibys A. Mercedes, 26, of Linden; Lydell M. Mercedes, 24, of Linden; Altray K. Brown, 33, of Irvington; and Yolanda K. Montgomery, 30, of Newark.
The arrests stem from a joint investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office and the North Arlington Police Department into the July 19 shooting that killed 28-year-old Brian Dominick Lockett of North Arlington and 29-year-old Ezequiel Aquino of Newark.
Altercation ended in deadly gunfire
Police responded at approximately 8:37 p.m. on July 19 to reports of shots fired near the intersection of Ridge Road and Belleville Turnpike, where Ridge Road becomes Kearny Avenue at the border of North Arlington and Kearny.
Responding officers, assisted by the Bergen County Rapid Deployment Team, Bergen County Sheriff’s Office, Kearny Police Department and Lyndhurst Police Department, found both victims suffering from gunshot wounds.
First responders provided emergency medical care before both men were transported separately to University Hospital in Newark, where they were pronounced dead.
Investigators determined the shooting occurred during an altercation involving two small groups of people.
Investigators identify alleged shooter
According to prosecutors, the investigation identified Leibys Mercedes as the alleged shooter.
Authorities allege that after the shooting, Leibys Mercedes and Lydell Mercedes fled together in one vehicle, while Brown and Montgomery left the scene in a second vehicle.
Prosecutors said Brown and Montgomery had two children under the age of 5 inside their vehicle at the time, and neither child was secured in a car seat.
Investigators also allege that none of the four defendants contacted law enforcement or attempted to assist the two wounded victims before leaving the scene.
Murder charges filed
Leibys Mercedes and Lydell Mercedes have each been charged with two counts of first-degree murder, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and unlawful possession of a handgun.
Leibys Mercedes also faces an additional charge of certain persons not to possess firearms.
Brown and Montgomery were arrested July 22 during the execution of a court-authorized search warrant at a residence in Plainfield.
Brown was charged with two counts of endangering an injured victim and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child.
Montgomery was charged with two counts of endangering an injured victim and two counts of second-degree endangering the welfare of a child.
Both appeared in Bergen County Superior Court on July 30 and were released pending further court proceedings.
Fugitive captured after traffic stop
Following the initial arrests, prosecutors obtained arrest warrants for Leibys and Lydell Mercedes.
Lydell Mercedes was arrested July 31 after East Brunswick police conducted a routine traffic stop and discovered the outstanding murder warrant during a records check.
He was turned over to Bergen County investigators and remains held at the Bergen County Jail pending his first court appearance.
Leibys Mercedes was arrested Monday in Newark by detectives from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office and the North Arlington Police Department. He was also lodged in the Bergen County Jail pending his initial appearance in Superior Court.
The investigation remains active.
