FRANKLIN, NJ—Early Sunday evening, a New Brunswick resident and successful hip-hop musician named Eric J. Andrews Jr. was fatally shot inside a hair salon on Somerset Street.

According to the Somerset County Prosecutor’s office, Andrews, who also went by the stage name E-9, was gunned down inside Nu Trendz Hair Salon at 563 Somerset Street, shortly before 6pm.

Together, E-9 and his childhood friend 6FO frequently collaborated and were scheduled to perform at a New York City club tonight for New Year’s Eve.

E-9 and 6FO released a music video for their hit song “Hometown” in 2011.  The song paid tribute to New Jersey, particularly New Brunswick and Exit 9 on the Turnpike, where Andrews got his nickname.

The video included scenes shot at the city’s famous grease trucks, and depicted 6FO walking into the same barbershop where E-9 was killed on Sunday.

As reported by the Home News Tribune, a small memorial was placed outside the barber shop including flowers and a poster board that read the following: “E-An: God Bless You! And keep you! I love you to life! Taking you to the ‘A’ with me always. Luv me Some You! Mom-Shi.”

The barbershop is located just across Route 27 from New Brunswick.  The highway serves as the dividing line between Somerset and Middlesex Counties.

The homicide is currently being investigated by detectives from both the Franklin Township Police and the Somerset County Prosecutors Office.

Earlier today, authorities announced they were searching for two brothers who may have been involved in the killing, Antwan and Zaire Cromedy.

Zaire, the younger of the two, lives on Langley Place in the Lincoln Gardens neighborhood of New Brunswick, according to the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office.

Senior Reporter at New Brunswick Today | 732-474-7924 | jkaado@nb.today

Jad is a local writer, organizer, and life-long resident of New Brunswick. He is a graduate of both Rutgers University and The University of Toronto.

Jad is a local writer, organizer, and life-long resident of New Brunswick. He is a graduate of both Rutgers University and The University of Toronto.