Newark slayings suspects plead not guilty

Three friend were murdered in a Newark school playground last summer
NEWARK Sixteen-year-old Shahid Baskerville of Morristown and 15-year-old Gerardo Gomez of Newark appeared in adult court this morning.

The two teens are facing three counts of murder in addition to weapons charges. Baskerville also is charged with aggravated sexual assault.

The two youths along with four other suspects are charged in the execution-style slayings of three friends with promising futures.

Twenty-year-old Iofemi Hightower, 20-year-old Dashon Harvey and 18-year-old Terrance Aeriel were shot as they knelt in front of a wall in a school playground.

Aeriel's sister, Natasha, who survived the shooting, helped authorities identify suspects.

Baskerville and Gomez are each being held on $1 million bail.

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