12 men charged in connection to 8 murders in Essex County

Twelve men were charged Thursday in connection with eight unrelated murders in Essex County, New Jersey.

The Essex County Prosecutor’s Office said the charges are in connection with murders that occurred during June and July in Newark, Irvington, Orange and East Orange.

All eight killings occurred in the bloody weeks since the start of the summer, as temperatures began to warm and homicides totals pushed past 2014 levels.

They include the killing of Robert Hayes a New Jersey City University student left beaten and naked on a Newark street, and multiple fatal shootings.

Seven of the twelve suspects have been apprehended and detained on bail.

Here is the rundown of each case and charges:

* Kevin Miller, 24, Newark
Status: Fugitive
Case Details: Wanted in connection with the murder of 24-year-old Shakime Peppers of Newark. The murder happened June 20 on 6th Avenue in Newark. Miller is also charged with conspiracy, robbery and weapons charges. Bail has been set at $750,000.

* Dwayne Gaskins, 39, Newark
* Shariff Robinson, 29, Newark
Status: Arrested, Arrested
Case Details: Charged with murder, felony murder, robbery, and weapons charges in connection with the June 22 fatal shooting of Jeffrey Miller. The crime happened on Park Avenue in Orange. Bail has been set at $1 million for Gaskins and Robinson.

* Kyle Nelson, 26, Orange
Status: Arrested
Case Details: Wanted in connection with the shooting death of James Hurd of Orange. The incident occurred June 29 on Berwyn Street in Orange. Nelson is facing charges of murder, conspiracy, aggravated assault on a police officer, resisting arrest and hindering Apprehension. His bail was set at $1 million.

* Tusha Latham, 31, Newark
Status: Fugitive
Case Details: Wanted in connection with the fatal shooting of 35-year-old Alim Abdul Ghafur of Newark. The incident occurred July 3 on Washington Street in Newark. Latham is facing charges of murder, felony murder, armed robbery and weapon charges. His bail is set at $1 million.

* Lewis Williams, 18, East Orange
* Isiah Hutchins, 22, East Orange
Status: Arrested, Arrested
Case Details: Charged in connection with the shooting death of Ahmad Crudup of East Orange. It happened July 5 on Clinton Place in Orange. Both are charged with murder, attempted murder and weapons charges. Bail for both was set at $500,000.

* Jonathan Tejeda, 23, Newark
* Eric Santiago, 26, Belleville
* Edgardo Mendez, 23, Newark
Status: Arrested, Fugitive, Fugitive
Case Details: Charged in connection with the murder of Robert Seth Hayes, who was killed on Verona Avenue in Newark on July 9. Bail for all three is set at $500,000.

* Daevon Davis, 26, Newark
Status: Arrested
Case Details: Charged in connection with the murder of 44-year-old Christopher Graham of Irvington. The incident happened July 13 on Isabella Avenue in Newark. Davis is being held on $1 million bail.

* Mario Gayles, 31, East Orange
Status: Fugitive
Case Details: Facing charges in connection with the murder of 33-year-old Icrish Bostic of Phillipsburg. The crime happened July 15 on Springfield Avenue in Irvington. Gayles is wanted on murder and weapons charges. Bail is set at $1 million.

The prosecutor is asking for anyone with information about the fugitives listed above to contact them at 1-877-847-7432.