Two Brothers Arrested and Charged with Murder of New Brunswick Hip-Hop Artist E-9

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ–Two brothers were arrested Tuesday December 31 and charged with first-degree murder for the shooting of rap artist Eric Andrews, Jr.

On Sunday, the two brothers, Zaire Cromedy, 21, and Antwan Cromedy, 28, allegedly engaged in a verbal argument with Andrews at a barber shop on Somerset Street in Franklin Township, just across Route 27 from New Brunswick. 

The argument allegedly ended with Antwan giving Zaire a handgun and telling him to shoot Andrews.

Patrol officers from the Franklin Township Police Department responded to the scene at 5:53 pm, where they found Andrews lying on the floor, suffering from a gunshot wound.

The victim was rushed to Robert Wood Johson University Hospital Trauma Center, where he was pronounced dead. 

Eric Andrews Jr, also known by the stage name E-9, was a popular rap artist in the local music scene.

Andrews enjoyed great succeess in his career, partnering with another local musician, 6FO.  Together, the childhood friends built a name for themselves and collaborated with Wocka Flocka Flame and other nationally-known artists.

Detectives arrested Antwan Cromedy at his Bround Brook residence at approximately 12 pm.  Hours later, his brother Zaire Cromedy surrendered to police.

The Cromedy brothers are currently being held at the Somerset County Jail, with a bail set to $500,000 each by Judge Yolanda Ciccone.

Both of the brothers have criminal records which are likely to impact their outcome. 

In 2006, Antwan Cromedy was placed on three years probation for drug possession and attempting to elude police officers.

In 2011, Zaire Cromedy was sentenced to four years on probation for weapons charges.

In the press release by the Prosecutor’s Office, Somerset County Prosecutor Soriana extended his gratitutde to several parties that aided in the capture of the Cromedy brothers.

These parties included Assistant Prosecutor Robert J. Hawkes, Somerset County Crime Stoppers, Inc., Somerset County Communications Dispatchers, Franklin Township Police Department Detective and Patrol Divisions, the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office BCI Unit, the New Brunswick Police Department Detective Bureau, the Bound Brook Police Department Detective Bureau, the North Brunswick Police Department Patrol Division, the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office, the Trenton Police Department, the U.S. Marshal’s Fugitive Task Force, the New Jersey Transit Police Department, and the New Jersey State Police Regional Operations Intelligence Center.