Taj Mahal: Deadly Carjacking

2nd man surrenders in deadly NJ casino carjacking
WAYNE PARRY, Associated Press

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) — A second of three suspects in a deadly carjacking from an Atlantic City casino parking garage surrendered to police Thursday, and authorities called on the lone suspect at large to do likewise.

Eric Darden, 20, of Camden surrendered at the Haddon Heights Police Department with a lawyer at around 3 p.m., Atlantic County prosecutor Theodore Housel said. Another suspect, 20-year-old Phillip Byrd, was arrested Tuesday at his Camden home.

The two men, along with 18-year-old Raheem Simmons of Camden, are charged with murder, carjacking and other offenses in Sunday's fatal shooting of 28-year-old Sunil Rattu of Old Bridge. His companion, 24-year-old Radha Ghetia of Sayreville, also was shot but is recovering from her wounds.

Simmons is still being sought by police. Housel addressed him directly during the brief press conference, held in a Taj Mahal conference room.

"I think Mr. Darden did the right thing by surrendering himself," the prosecutor said. "Mr. Simmons, I suggest maybe this is the time to surrender yourself if you want anyone to hear your version of what took place."

Authorities said the three men cased two other casinos — Bally's Atlantic City and ACH, the casino formerly known as the Atlantic City Hilton — early Sunday before settling on the Taj Mahal. At around 8 a.m., authorities say, they accosted the couple as they walked to their car after a night at the casino, robbed them of a small amount of cash at gunpoint and forced them into their vehicle.

The men forced the victims to drive to a nearby alleyway where both were shot: Rattu twice in the head, killing him, and Ghetia in the upper body, Housel said. She's recovering from her injuries, he said.

Darden will make an initial appearance in state Superior Court on Friday, the prosecutor said.

The fatal carjacking was the second in a little more than a year that began in the Taj Mahal parking garage. In May 2010, Martin Caballero of North Bergen was carjacked after dropping off his family at the main entrance and trying to park his vehicle. He was taken from the garage and stabbed to death.

Two suspects are awaiting trial in that killing.