Pathmark shooting victim laid to rest Wednesday

  Eyewitness NewsOLD BRIDGE (WABC) -- One of the two people killed by a co-worker at a New Jersey supermarket was laid to rest Wednesday.

For a final time, the family and friends of Bryan Breen gathered to say farewell.

The service was filled with emotion, with the Old Bridge Funeral Home packed by those touched by Bryan's life and troubled by the senseless way he died. The 24-year-old Pathmark employee was the victim of rage from a heartless fellow employee who had no regard for human life.

Many of the mourners were clearly touched by the words offered during the brief service. Through the sadness and pain, this tragedy has brought many members of the Old Bridge community together.

Breen was shot along with his colleague, 18-year-old Cristina LaBrutto, while they were working early Friday morning in the Pathmark on Route 9 in Old Bridge. The shooter was 23-year-old Terrance Tyler, a troubled ex-Marine who took out his wrath on the innocent victims by blasting into the store with an AK-47. He fired at the first two people he saw before taking his own life with a handgun.

A wake for LoBrutto will be held Wednesday evening at Michael Hegarty Funeral Home in Old Bridge. Her funeral is Thursday morning at St. Ambrose Church.

CLICK HERE TO SEE PHOTOS FROM THE SHOOTING

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Suspect nabbed for stealing items off of accident victim

JERSEY CITY (WABC) -- As if being in a car accident wasn't bad enough, a local man became a victim again when he was laying on the ground after the accident, someone walked up and stole his wallet and phone.

It was an off-duty corrections officer who saved the day.

Hudson County corrections officer Michael Chess puts it this way. He says some people choose their careers, but he likes to think this career chose him.

The incident took place on Bayview Avenue in Jersey City on Wednesday.

"In 17 years I've seen some bizarre things but this is one of the craziest things," he said.

It started when two cars collided, a maroon car flipped over and a 35-year-old man from Queens was trapped inside. Officer Chess and a couple of other people raced over to help him.

"The driver of the vehicle that was flipped, kept asking me for all his personal items, his phone and wallet, but I heard the crowd saying, he has it! He has it," he adds.

He meaning 24-year-old Kendrick Floyd. Floyd allegedly doing the unthinkable, stealing the crash victim's belongings from him in the car right after the accident.

Officer Chess recognized Floyd from time he had done in the jail system. He caught up to him and recovered some of the items.

Authorities say Kendrick Floyd has already done time in jail for theft, but also, for resisting arrest and drug charges.

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Homeless beating victim speaks out

Web produced by Jennifer Matarese, Eyewitness NewsBELMAR, N.J. (WABC) -- The man who was viciously beaten by two young men who recorded the attack on camera is speaking out.

The victim is a homeless man, and there has been an outpouring of support for him.

David Ivins has a warm bed, food and clothing in the heart of Belmar.

It's a drastic change from the makeshift tent he called home in the middle of a wooded area.

"I was sitting there having a beer and they ran and jumped on me," Ivins said.

From his donated room at the Belmar Inn, David Ivins told Eyewitness News he doesn't remember much about that afternoon.

That day, two young men decided to punch, kick and torment the homeless man living in the wooded area, believing it was so funny they put it up on YouTube for the world to see.

At one point on the video they gave him an apology, followed by a knee to the gut.

"I'm trying to relax. My let got a cramp in it," Ivins said.

As for what he thinks about his two young attackers, "Not much."

Police quickly arrested 20-year-old Taylor Giresie and a 17-year-old minor because the video is crystal clear.

The images disgusted Giresie's long time neighbors.

"He's been in and out of foster homes. I'm not saying what he did was right. He's had a really screwed up family life. His father died last week. He was a total alcoholic," said Giresie's neighbor, Bobby.

Mayor Matthew Doherty says he's seen an incredible outpouring of support for the 50-year-old victim from the residents of Wall Township to countless calls from across the country.

"I have a coat and gloves," Ivins said.

"I can't tell you how many messages I got by text and Facebook about this. Everyone wants to do something for this man," Mayor Doherty said.

Information on how you can help the victim:

The Wall Township Police Department has coordinated efforts with Wall Helps Its People (WHIP) to set up a donation fund for the assault victim. Anyone interested in making a monetary donation can mail it to the following address: WHIP P.O.Box 1214, Wall, NJ 07719.

WHIP will not be accepting clothing or food donations on Mr. Ivins' behalf. Monies received will be used to provide Mr. Ivins with food, clothing, shelter and other necessities that he may need. Please indicate on the memo portion of your check "David Ivins" or include a note indicating where you would like your donation to be directed. Any clothing or food products for the victim can be dropped at the Belmar Police Department.

For other information please visit www.wallpolice.org.

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Burglary victim escorts suspect to police station

  Eyewitness NewsSOMERVILLE -- A construction worker in Somerville who caught a man rummaging through his truck saved the police a trip to the scene by escorting the suspect to the police station.

Somerset County Prosecutor Geoffrey Soriano says the worker confronted 31-year-old Jedrek Dennis in the parking lot outside where he was working and took him to Somerville Police Headquarters.

Dennis was charged with burglary and possession of a controlled substance after a search revealed he was carrying a cigarette box with prescription muscle relaxants inside.

Dennis is being held on bond at Somerset County Jail. (Copyright ©2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) Get more New Jersey News »

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Divers recover body of drowning victim at NJ lake

  Eyewitness NewsEAST BRUNSWICK, N.J. -- Divers have recovered the body of a 21-year-old New Jersey man who drowned while swimming with family members at a lake in Middlesex County this weekend.

The victim, identified only as a Somerset County resident, was in Dallenbach Lake in East Brunswick on Saturday afternoon when he went under water and did not resurface. His relatives quickly notified lifeguards, who searched for the man but could not locate him.

Emergency crews soon arrived and searched the lake and nearby areas for several hours before suspending the search around 10:30 p.m. due to darkness. They returned to the lake early Sunday and found the body around 9:45 a.m.

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Parents of drowning victim sue public pool

  Tiffany Jackson, Eyewitness NewsTRENTON, N.J. (WABC) -- The parents of a 3-year-old boy who drown in a crowded public pool in New Jersey filed a civil lawsuit on Tuesday.

It accuses pool administrators and the six lifeguards on-duty that day with negligence.

Surveillance video of the city owned pool in Trenton shows little Darren Horton, Jr. struggling for about 4 minutes to stay afloat in the crowded pool last summer.

One distracted lifeguard is less than 25 feet away, talking with a girl.

A neighbor had brought Horton and several other children to the pool that day.

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Vigil held for wrong-way crash victim

Web produced by Jennifer Matarese, Eyewitness NewsELIZABETH, N.J. (WABC) -- Friends and family held a vigil in honor of a young Elizabeth, New Jersey man killed in a wrong-way crash in Newark.

This is how they are coping with their grief: a candlelight vigil on a field, telling stories about a friend who was killed in a car crash on Route 1 & 9 in Newark.

"It all comes down to the guy we lost," said a friend.

23-year-old Gustuvo Cunha was an aspiring musician, and according to the people who knew him best, a good person.

"I lost my heart. He was a true friend," said a friend.

Cunha was heading from a soccer game with friends at around 10 p.m. Monday night.

He and two others were riding in a Mazda, when a Toyota Forerunner with five people inside crashed into them.

Investigators believe the driver of the Toyota was going the wrong way on Route 1 & 9.

An 83-year-old died, and so did Gus Cunha.

"She's devastated," a relative said.

At his home, a relative told Eyewitness News that his mother is distraught.

She will soon bury her only child, the son she brought to the U.S. years ago from Brazil.

"I think she wanted him to have a better life," the relative said.

"You're always in our hearts," a friend said.

His friends say he lived life, and that's how they remember him now.

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