A man charged with gun crimes after he shot and killed an alleged home invader in Cumberland County has been ordered released from jail while he awaits trial.
Kevin Lucero, 24, shot one of two people who forced their way into his Upper Deerfield residence on the evening of Feb. 19, according to police.
New Jersey State Police troopers responding to the home found a gunshot victim, Silvestre Marroquin, 31, of Bridgeton, in a downstairs hallway suffering from a wound to the torso, authorities said.
“I shot him, please help him,” Lucero allegedly told troopers, according to court documents.
Silvestre died of his injuries.
The second alleged intruder, who has not been identified, ran off and remains at large.
Police found a handgun next to Marroquin’s body and a “ghost gun” — a firearm without a serial number — on a kitchen counter near the rear door where the intruders allegedly entered, police said.
Troopers obtained a search warrant for the residence and vehicles on the property and seized another ghost gun from an upstairs bedroom, police said. They also seized a butcher knife, cellphone and money.
About $21,000 in cash was found in Lucero’s bedroom, along with an unspecified controlled dangerous substance, according to court documents.
Lucero was charged with two third-degree possession of prohibited weapons offenses for the ghost guns and jailed.
No mention of the money, drugs or butcher knife was made during a hearing on Friday in Superior Court in which Assistant Prosecutor Robert Polis sought Lucero’s pre-trial detention.
A public safety assessment conducted by the court recommended his pretrial release.
The prosecutor stated that, while Lucero has no history of convictions, ghost guns were found at the residence and this makes him a potential danger if freed.
“Possession of ghost guns are highly problematic for the safety of our community,” Polis said.
Defense attorney David Branco stated that police responded to the home for a crime in progress in which his client was the victim.
“This was a home invasion, judge, where two men, masked and armed, came in,” Branco said. “Mr. Lucero defended himself.”
Lucero immediately called 911, the attorney added.
Branco said the alleged intruder was shot with his own weapon, not one of the ghost guns.
As for ownership of the ghost guns, Branco noted that his client is not the only resident of the home.
Superior Court Judge Demetrica Todd reviewed the arguments from both attorneys and ultimately decided to release Lucero with requirements that he report to court officials twice a month and undergo a mental health evaluation. He also cannot possess firearms.
He is scheduled to return to court in April for a pre-indictment hearing.
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Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com.
