Two Pennsylvania men were arrested for a September armed robbery in Secaucus where both suspects were charged for a shooting incident in Palisades Park as they fled, Police Chief Dennis Miller announced.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
On September 14th at approximately 5:44 a.m., a resident of the RVR complex at the Exchange in Secaucus arrived at his residence. After exiting his vehicle in the parking deck, the victim was approached by three men in ski masks all armed with handguns, Miller said in a statement.
The armed trio then robbed the victim of his watch and pistol whipped him several times before fleeing in their Chevrolet Camaro, however the victim began following the suspects in his own vehicle.
This was not a random act and there is sufficient evidence to believe the victim was specifically targeted, authorities said.
While following the suspects, the police were called as the victim and suspects travelled northbound on the New Jersey Turnpike. During this chase the suspects fired multiple shots at the victim’s vehicle, striking it at least once.
One shooting incident occurred in the vicinity of Palisades Park. The suspect vehicle then turned around and headed southbound on the New Jersey Turnpike.
While on the New Jersey Turnpike the New Jersey State Police engaged in a vehicle pursuit of the suspect vehicle, however they lost sight of it near Exit 11. Ballistic evidence was recovered in Palisades Park and from the victim’s vehicle.
On September 17th, the suspect vehicle was stopped in West Chester County, New York. Detectives from the Secaucus Police Department responded to the scene and later brought the vehicle back to New Jersey.
As a result of the investigation Raheem Hickman, 22, of Sharon Hill, PA and Sahr Keppah, 22, of Collingdale, PA were identified as two of the individuals who committed the robbery.
On October, 22nd, Keppah was arrested at his residence in Collingdale, PA by Detectives from the Secaucus PD, along with Collingdale Police and the Delaware County SWAT Team.
During a search of his residence some items of evidential value were recovered before he was lodged in Delaware County Prison awaiting extradition to New Jersey.
On October 23rd, detectives from the Secaucus Police Department, along with U.S. Marshals, arrested Hickman at a residence in the Bronx, NY. He was lodged in Rikers Island awaiting extradition to New Jersey.
“This incident is a clear example that criminals operate with no jurisdictional boundaries, therefore the only way to hold these criminals accountable is to work collaboratively with one another, ” Miller added.
“I want to thank the West Chester County, NY and Collingdale, PA Police Departments along with the Delaware County, PA SWAT Team for their assistance. I also want commend the investigative follow up work of my Detective Division under the supervision of Det. Sgt. David Delseni and I am proud of the hard work they put forth each and every day.”
Hickman and Keppah were each charged with robbery, possession of a firearm for an unlawful purpose, unlawful possession of a firearm, two separate counts of aggravated, and conspiracy to commit robbery.
Additionally, both men were charged by the Secaucus PD with criminal attempt to commit murder and conspiracy to commit murder for the shooting incident in Palisades Park, police said.
