A Pennsylvania man was arrested Friday and charged in a double homicide after allegedly breaking into a New Jersey home and fatally shooting his young son’s mother and grandmother, according to prosecutors.
Junior Edwards, 37, is accused of carrying out the killings early Wednesday morning in a Willingboro Township residence, where his 8-year-old son was also present, reported the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office. Edwards, from Lansdowne, faces two counts of first-degree murder for the deaths of 33-year-old Catherine Nunez, the mother of his son, and her 54-year-old mother, Marisol Nunez.
Pennsylvania Man Charged in Fatal Shooting of Son’s Mother and Grandmother in NJ Home
Both Catherine Nunez and her mother, Marisol Nunez, were found dead from multiple gunshot wounds in an upstairs bedroom of their New Jersey home. Prosecutors allege that Junior Edwards, 37, broke into the house around 4 a.m. by smashing a first-floor window. Edwards’ 8-year-old son was in the home during the incident but was unharmed. The suspected murder weapon, a handgun, was discovered outside.
While authorities have not confirmed a motive, family members described Edwards as a “monster” who had made threats in the past. “The American dream turned into an American nightmare,” said Wilson Nunez, Marisol’s brother, noting that Marisol often cared for her grandson when Catherine commuted to New York City for her job.
Junior Edwards,37, of Lansdowne, charged with shooting & killing mother & daughter after breaking into their Willingboro house Wednesday morning. Edwards had already been in custody after arrested by @PhillyPolice on other charges unrelated to the double by murder in NJ. 1/3 pic.twitter.com/92nBztHohv
— Steve Keeley (@KeeleyFox29) November 2, 2024
Family Devastated After Double Homicide in NJ Home; GoFundMe Created for Funeral Costs
In a statement on their GoFundMe page, the family expressed their heartbreak: “This loss has left our family devastated, and it’s a reminder of how fragile life can be.” The fundraiser aims to cover funeral expenses for Catherine and Marisol Nunez, who were tragically killed in the shooting.
Junior Edwards, 37, faces charges not only for two counts of murder but also for home invasion with a firearm, unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and endangering the welfare of a child. Authorities revealed he was already in custody on unrelated charges in Philadelphia when the new charges were filed.
