30-Year-Old Bridgeton Resident Sentenced to 37 Years for Shooting New Jersey State Police Detective during Home Invasion

Tremaine Hadden, a 30-year-old Bridgeton resident, has been sentenced to 37 years in prison for shooting a New Jersey State Police detective during a 2020 home invasion investigation in Salem County.

Tremaine Hadden has been sentenced to 37 years in prison for shooting a New Jersey State Police detective during a 2020 home invasion investigation. (PHOTO: WPG Talk Radio 95.5 FM)

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Tremaine Hadden Receives 37-Year Prison Term for 2020 Shooting of New Jersey State Police Detective

Tremaine Hadden, a 30-year-old resident of Bridgeton, New Jersey, has been sentenced to 37 years in state prison after being found guilty of shooting a New Jersey State Police detective in 2020 during an investigation into a home invasion in Salem County. This sentencing was announced by Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin on September 12, 2023.

Hadden was convicted on several charges, including aggravated assault on New Jersey State Police detective, conspiracy, unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and riot. He will receive a particularly long sentence, including nearly 28 years without the possibility of parole, as ordered by State Superior Court Judge John Eastlack.

The incident stemmed on 25^th of April in 2020 when Detective Richard Hershey was shot while investigating a home invasion in Pittsgrove, Salem County. According to the reports, 15 individuals were armed with weapons arrived at the scene in five vehicles. Despite Hershey identifying himself as a law enforcement officer and trying to control the situation, Hadden and two others, Najzeir “Naz” Hutchings and Kareen “Kai” Warner, opened fire. Ballistics experts confirmed over a dozen shots were fired, with Hadden alone firing approximately eleven rounds, seriously injuring Hershey. Remarkably, Detective Hershey has since fully recovered.

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New Jersey State Police Detective Hershey Named 2020 Trooper of the Year

Following the incident, New Jersey State Police Detective Hershey returned to duty and was recognized as the NJSP’s 2020 Trooper of the Year for his dedication and bravery. Both Hutchings and Warner, residents of Bridgeton, pleaded guilty to aggravated assault in May. Hadden’s conviction came after a trial on May 30, 2023.

This sentencing serves as a strong message against violence targeting law enforcement officers. Attorney General Platkin emphasized that such actions would not be tolerated, particularly when officers are identified and giving verbal commands. The collaborative efforts of multiple law enforcement agencies, including the New Jersey State Police, the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability, and the Division of Criminal Justice, were instrumental in bringing Hadden to justice. The investigation also received assistance from federal agencies such as the U.S. Marshals Service and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.

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