Jury Selection Begins for Double Murder

According to the Asbury Park Press, jury selection has started in the case of a man accused of killing two — one man from Middletown and another from Long Branch — in Red Bank in 2009.

Antonio D. Suarez-Perez, 24, is facing multiple counts of murder and weapons offenses after authorities say he gunned down Sidney Wakefield, 26, of Long Branch, and Joseph Fann, 23, of Middletown, the Press reports.

A previous report from Two River Times said the murders were part of an attempted robbery. Suarez-Perez, along with two co-defendents, apparently met the two victims at a nearby gas station late Feb. 9. Two hours later, Suarez-Perez shot both men multiple times after trying to steal cocaine from them.

The confrontation took place on Locust Avenue where Saurez-Perez lived.

The Press reports that Saurez-Perez's co-defendents, Samson Theodore Hearn, 29, of Fair Haven, and Eric J. Figueras, 28, of Red Bank, pleaded guilty to hindering Saurez-Perez's apprehension after helping him leave the scene and have agreed to testify at his trial.