A Franklin Township man, who was a fugitive for nearly 2 months after being charged with shooting another man, is now FREE TO GO under NJ Bail Reform
Jaki N. Hooks-Lewis, 20, was charged on January 3, 2017 with shooting another man in the leg after an incident in the area of Dewald Avenue. After police were able to identify the shooter as Hooks-Lewis, police later discovered that Hooks-Lewis’s father, Jason Lewis, helped his son in fleeing the from the incident.
Hooks-Lewis was a fugitive for nearly two months before surrendering himself on Feb 28, 2017. It took only six days before Hooks-Lewis was released…FREE TO GO by court order under the new NJ Bail Reform guidelines.
- ZERO Accountability
- ZERO Supervision
- ZERO Bail…just a “pinky promise” to return
Father surrenders in N.J. shooting, son remains at large
As reported by NJ.com – Feb 13, 2017 (prior to Hooks-Lewis’s surrender)
Franklin – A man who authorities sought in hindering the apprehension of his son in connection with a township shooting last month turned himself into sheriff’s officers at the Somerset County Jail on Feb. 10, the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office said in a news release on Monday.
Jason Lewis, 43, has been charged with helping his son, Jaki N. Hooks-Lewis, elude police following a Jan. 3 shooting.
Hooks-Lewis allegedly shot a 31-year-old male outside a Dewald Avenue residence. The victim suffered a non-life threatening gunshot wound to his leg, authorities have said.
Hooks-Lewis, 20, of Dewald Avenue, remains at large.
Somerset County Crime Stoppers have offered a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to the arrest of the father and son.
On Jan. 3 at approximately 7:44 p.m., township police responded to multiple 9-1-1 calls reporting gunshots in the area of Dewald Avenue. Upon arrival, officers located the victim suffering from a gunshot, it was previously reported.
The victim, who authorities said was the intended target, was taken to a local trauma center for emergency treatment.
During an investigation, detectives identified Hooks-Lewis as the shooter. It was later revealed that Lewis assisted his son in fleeing from the area after the shooting, according to police.
Upon surrendering Friday at 5:40 p.m., Lewis was lodged in the Somerset County Jail pending a detention hearing, according to the release. Lewis has been charged with third-degree hindering apprehension.
Detectives are urging Hooks-Lewis to surrender to law enforcement. The public is cautioned not to approach him as he’s considered armed and dangerous, according to a news release.
Law enforcement is requesting anyone with information regarding the shooting or Hooks-Lewis’ whereabouts to contact the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit at 908-231-7100 or the Franklin Township Police Department 732-873-5533.
Tipsters interested in collecting the reward monies must call the Somerset County Crime Stoppers’ Tip Line at 1-888-577-8477 or go online at www.888577tips.org or www.scpo.net and click on either “Crime Stoppers” or “TIPS HOTLINE.”
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