It had been a fairly typical day.

The two friends had spent the afternoon at a party in Connecticut, hanging out and having a good time.

“We had a good day,” said Berlin Brun, describing the day he spent last Saturday with Roobino Philemon, 30. “All we did was laugh and talk about the future and the plans that we had.”

On their way back to N.J., Philemon and Brun, both of West Orange, decided “at the last minute” to accept the invitation from a woman that Philemon had known for a few years and attend another party in Bridgewater.

But when they arrived at the party at a Bayberry Road address shortly after 11:30 p.m., they were greeted by two men who told them they were not welcome and were asked to leave, Brun said.

They never entered the home, Brun said, but the exchange outside was cordial enough, and the two men agreed to leave. There was no hostility, Brun added, which is why he still can’t understand why an encounter turned violent minutes later.

Brun said he and Philemon stayed out front in Philemon’s car for a few minutes and then drove to the side of the home on Foothill Road as they waited for three women who were also leaving the party. But as they were waiting, the homeowner, later identified as Linden native and former NFL Pro Bowler Muhammad Wilkerson, tapped on the window telling them again they had to leave, Brun said. (Wilkerson bought the home through a limited liability company in 2016, according to property records.)

Unbeknownst to Brun and Philemon, the police had already been called to the house twice that night for noise complaints by neighbors. Brun said he sensed the men outside were on edge.

“Y’all gotta go, y’all gotta go,” Brun recalls one of the men saying. “This is making my neighbors nervous.”

But as they began “to roll slowly down” the street adjacent to Wilkerson’s home in Philemon’s 2012 black Dodge Charger, Wilkerson’s brother, Hafeez Brown, 33, of Linden, allegedly fired multiple shots at the vehicle from behind, according to a criminal complaint. One of the bullets entered through the rear window, then the driver’s seat before piercing Philemon’s back, Brun said.

Brun said he jumped out of the car and dragged Philemon to the back of the car, called 911 and began driving to a hospital before flagging down an officer for help. Officers provided emergency medical care before an ambulance arrived and took Philemon to a nearby trauma center, where he was pronounced dead.

Brun said neither he or Philemon knew Wilkerson or Brown, and Brun said the two men did not know that the Bridgewater home was owned by Wilkerson, who has not been charged with any wrongdoing in Philemon’s death.

“They never disrespected us,” he said. “They never said anything negative to us. We did the exact same thing. The fact that they started shooting at us is where we are puzzled for why they even decided to do that.”

A week later, Brun said he still does not have answers.

“My question is ‘Why?’” Brun asked. “Because we were leaving. We didn’t have any type of disagreement or anything like that. My question is why, why did you choose to do something like this?”

“I need to know why,” he said. “He took my best friend. He took a father. He took a son. He took a family member and a loving friend.”

Police have released few details regarding the motive of the alleged homicide.

The killing has unnerved residents in a town where there was was only one homicide from 2014 to 2018, according to FBI crime data. A resident, who said she has lived on Bayberry Road for more than 50 years and asked not to be identified, said when she and her husband awoke to a police presence Sunday morning, they thought there had been a bad car crash on their typically quiet street.

Bridgewater police Captain John Mitzak told NJ Advance Media that police responded to Wilkerson’s home twice on the night of the shooting for noise complaints — around 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. (Bridgewater police have not released the noise complaint reports, citing an ongoing criminal investigation.)

A third call came at 11:53 p.m. from Brun, an urgent plea for help for his friend who had been shot. Brun said he tried to prop Philemon’s head as emergency responders cared for him, but sensed his best friend was dying.

“The fact that I am still alive and he is not, it bothers me,” Brun said.

After the shooting, a shelter in place was called for the area between 2:10 a.m. and 3:30 a.m. Sunday. A SWAT team responded to the Bayberry Road home, where five people cooperated without incident. Police later identified Brown as being one of the occupants in the home they responded to, authorities said.

Brown, who previously pleaded guilty to distribution of heroin in 2012, has been charged with first-degree murder and other firearm offenses. He was ordered by a Somerset County Superior Court judge Thursday to continue to be detained.

“The presumption of innocence is not just a legal formality. Mr. Brown, like any other citizen, is innocent until proven guilty, and looks forward to his day in court,” attorneys Joshua F. McMahon and Michael Noriega said in a statement.

Upon executing a search warrant at Wilkerson’s home, police allegedly recovered a “substantial” amount of marijuana and two firearms and ammunition.

George A. Bease, 32, of Bridgewater, was charged with second degree possession of a firearm while in the course of committing a controlled dangerous substance offense. According to the criminal complaint, police recovered packaging material and an amount of money “consistent with the intent to distribute” marijuana.

Bease is not charged in connection with Philemon’s death and was ordered released by a Superior Court judge Thursday.

Brown, Bease and Wilkerson each went to Linden High School where they played on the basketball team. Wilkerson went on to solidify himself as one of the best athletes to come out of New Jersey over the last decade.

The New York Jets selected him in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft after he played at Temple University. Wilkerson went on to play seven years for the local team, making one Pro Bowl and two second-team All-Pro teams. He ended his NFL career with the Green Bay Packers.

“Mr. Wilkerson’s thoughts and prayers go out to all the individuals affected by this tragedy,” said a spokesman for Wilkerson.

Friends described Philemon as a loving father who had a contagious smile that he always flashed, whether it was at the Cresmont Country Club in West Orange, where he caddied for more than a decade, or at hangouts with friends.

He is survived by a young son and daughter.

Last year, Philemon received his degree in occupational therapy from Eastwick College and was working in the field in Staten Island. He had planned to go back to school to continue to earn additional degrees as an occupational therapist, Brun said.

A GoFundMe established in his honor doubled its goal of $10,000 to help pay for his funeral expenses and droves of family and friends have paid respects to Philemon on social media.

“Roobino Taron Philemon was and forever a stand up guy & father,” one friend wrote. “Full of life.”

Staff writer Katie Kausch contributed to this report.

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Joe Atmonavage may be reached at jatmonavage@njadvancemedia.com.

ROCKAWAY, NJ — A rookie tight end from the New York Jets was arrested and charged with drunk driving in Morris County early Saturday morning, New Jersey State Police confirmed to multiple media outlets.

Chris Herndon, 22, was arrested on Route 80 in Rockaway around 4:45 a.m. on Saturday, New Jersey State Police told the Miami Herald. He allegedly crashed his SUV into another that was towing a vintage car, police said. The other car was driven by a 72-year-old Manalapan man.

Police told NorthJersey.com that Herndon’s blood alcohol level was above the legal limit, and he was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated. He was released without being taken to jail.

There were no serious injuries as a result of the crash, North Jersey.com reported.

Herndon was picked by the Jets in the 10th round of the NFL draft in April, 107th overall, following his career at the University of Miami.

“We are aware of the situation and have no further comment at this time,” a spokesperson for the Jets told Patch.

The Jets practice at their training facility in Florham Park. The team is in their final week of off-season organized team activities before they begin mini-camps.

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ORLANDO, FL – DECEMBER 28: Chris Herndon IV #23 of the Miami Hurricanes gets tackled after a reception against the West Virginia Mountaineers in the second half of the Russell Athletic Bowl at Camping World Stadium on December 28, 2016 in Orlando, Florida. Miami defeated West Virginia 31-14. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)

Instead of tossing aside Robby Anderson and Dylan Donahue, each of whom has been arrested twice since May, New York Jets CEO Christopher Johnson said the organization wants to keep them and will help the players work through their issues.

But leniency has its limits.

“My patience isn’t infinite,” Johnson told reporters Sunday at the league meetings in Orlando, Florida. “I expect those guys to straighten up, and I’m going to talk to them about that.”

Donahue was charged with drunk driving in two separate incidents (in both cases, he was involved in a car accident), and Anderson is facing felony charges from two arrests in South Florida — resisting arrest in one case, and threatening to sexually assault a police officer’s wife in the other.

Some teams would have fired them already. The Jets are trying to rehabilitate them.

“I’m really disappointed, but I think these guys deserve the support of the team,” said Johnson, pausing to gather his emotions. “They deserve a second chance. We have a really good support system with the team, and I think we can help these guys.”

Anderson is one of their top offensive players; Donahue was a fifth-round draft pick in 2017.

In the aftermath of his second DWI, in February, Donahue checked into a treatment facility, as ESPN first reported. Johnson has yet to speak with Donahue since the second arrest, but he has talked to Anderson.

Johnson said he became “pretty good friends” with Anderson last season.

“I have a lot of respect for that young man, and I want to see him succeed,” Johnson said. “I’m hopeful he will.”

This is a slippery slope for the Jets’ CEO, because Anderson’s alleged remarks to the police officer in his second arrest, in January, were disturbing. Johnson was asked what he would tell the parent of a young kid who wears Anderson’s No. 11 jersey. He paused.

“That’s a good question,” he said. “I’m really hopeful Robby will put this kind of thing behind him and he will be the kind of person — forget about his playing, he’s an incredible football player — who will make people all around proud to wear a No. 11 jersey.”

So, no, the Jets aren’t cutting Anderson and Donahue. Evidently, they aren’t cutting Rashard Robinson, either. In December, Robinson was arrested for possession of marijuana-laced candy.

Johnson claimed the Jets don’t have a discipline problem.

“I don’t think so, I really don’t,” he said. “I think we can get these guys back on track. Young men sometimes are young men. They make silly mistakes. I’m hoping we can be part of helping them become better people.”

Johnson might wish he could have a mulligan on his use of the word “silly.” Driving the wrong way in the Lincoln Tunnel and colliding with a passenger bus isn’t a silly mistake; it’s a serious error in judgment that could have been tragic. Nevertheless, the Jets are standing by their players.

At some point, the league will determine if disciplinary action is needed. It wouldn’t be a shock if Anderson and Donahue are suspended.

 

WEEHAWKEN – Jets linebacker Dylan Donahue waived his first court appearance yesterday for charges stemming from a wrong-way crash at the Lincoln Tunnel last month.

His Morristown-based attorney, Terry Webb, stood before a judge in Weehawken Municipal Court for less than one minute saying she received discovery in the case, before a new court date was set.

Authorities say Donahue was driving a green Dodge Charger on Feb. 26 when he drove around cones on the Weehawken side of the tunnel and proceeded into a tube against traffic. He allegedly crashed into a jitney bus and was charged with DWI.

The front-seat passenger of the vehicle, Suleiman Mahmood, who is reportedly a Passaic firefighter, was charged with two counts of disorderly conduct for allegedly intervening during Donahue’s arrest.

Mahmood, wearing a sweatshirt with his firefighter’s union patch on the front, was arraigned on the charges and asked the judge for some time to hire a lawyer. He and Donahue are expected in court again on April 11.

Webb declined to discuss the details of the case.

Fifteen people were on board the jitney when authorities say Donahue drove into the bus. Four of those passengers were treated at Hoboken University Hospital for minor injuries.

Donahue, 25, who was selected in the fifth round of the 2017 draft by the Jets, was a backup and special teams player during his four games with the team this past season. He suffered a season-ending injury to his elbow in the Jets’ Oct. 1 win over the Jaguars.

Caitlin Mota may be reached at cmota@jjournal.com.

WEEHAWKEN – Jets linebacker Dylan Donahue waived his first court appearance on Tuesday for charges stemming from a wrong-way crash at the Lincoln Tunnel last month.

His Morristown-based attorney, Terry Webb, stood before a judge in Weehawken Municipal Court for less than one minute saying she received discovery in the case, before a new court date was set. 

Authorities say Donahue was driving a green Dodge Charger on Feb. 26 when he drove around cones on the Weehawken side of the tunnel and proceeded into a tube against traffic. He allegedly crashed into a jitney bus and was charged with DWI.

The front seat passenger of the vehicle, Suleiman Mahmood, who is reportedly a Passaic firefighter, was charged with two counts of disorderly conduct for allegedly intervening during Donahue’s arrest.

Mahmood, wearing a sweatshirt with his firefighter’s union patch on the front, was arraigned on the charges and asked the judge for some time to hire a lawyer. He and Donahue are expected in court again on April 11.

Webb declined to discuss the details of the case.

Fifteen people were on board the jitney when authorities say Donahue drove into the bus. Four of those passengers were treated at Hoboken University Hospital for minor injuries.

Donahue, 25, who was selected in the fifth round of the 2017 draft by the Jets, was a backup and special teams player during his four games with the team this past season. He suffered a season-ending injury to his elbow in the Jets’ Oct. 1 win over the Jaguars.

Caitlin Mota may be reached at cmota@jjournal.com. Follow her on Twitter @caitlin_mota. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook.

 

 

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WEEHAWKEN, N.J. (AP) — New York Jets player Dylan Donahue has been charged with drunken driving after he allegedly drove the wrong way in the Lincoln Tunnel and collided with a jitney bus, injuring four people.

The cash happened around 2 a.m. Monday in Weehawken.

Port Authority police say an officer saw Donahue drive his car around traffic cones and enter the tunnel’s center tube. Donahue soon collided with the bus that had 15 people on board.

Four bus passengers were treated at a hospital for minor injuries. Donahue and a passenger apparently were not injured.

Donahue was a fifth-round draft pick of the Jets last year and played in four games before he suffered a season-ending elbow injury.

It’s not known if Donahue has retained an attorney. A Jets spokesman did not respond to a request for comment.

Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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WEEHAWKEN, N.J. (AP) — New York Jets player Dylan Donahue has been charged with drunken driving after he allegedly drove the wrong way in the Lincoln Tunnel and collided with a jitney bus, injuring four people.