In the late hours of a May evening in Fairfield Township, New Jersey, a birthday celebration with hundreds of guests turned into a scene of terror and tragedy. Among the attendees was 19-year-old Braylin Holmes. The festive atmosphere was shattered when gunfire erupted, sending panicked partygoers scrambling for safety. In the chaos, multiple people were struck by bullets.
When law enforcement arrived at the residence on East Commerce Street, they discovered a horrific scene with two individuals, 30-year-old Kevin Elliott and 25-year-old Asia Hester, already deceased. Twelve other adults had sustained gunshot wounds, including Braylin Holmes, who was critically injured. She was rushed to Cooper University Hospital in Camden for emergency medical treatment.
Despite the efforts of medical personnel, Braylin Holmes succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced dead on Monday, May 24, 2021, becoming the third and final fatality of the mass shooting.
The investigation into the deadly shooting was described by authorities as a targeted attack, not a random act of violence. In the days and months that followed, several arrests were made. Kevin Dawkins, 36, and Darrell Dawkins, 30, both of Bridgeton, were taken into custody shortly after the incident on weapons-related charges. Another individual, 39-year-old Larry McCrae, was also charged with unlawful possession of a handgun.
As the investigation progressed, more serious charges were filed. In August 2021, Zedekiah Holmes was charged with the murders of Hester and Elliott. Later, Arthur Armstead faced murder charges in connection with the deaths of Kevin Elliott and Braylin Holmes. Kevin Dawkins, who initially faced weapons charges, later had his charges upgraded to include attempted murder. By the fall of 2021, a total of nine individuals had been indicted on various charges related to the shooting.
