Man accused in 'unprecedented' murder-spree across Elizabeth, Pennsylvania

Authorities say a man killed seven people in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, including his cousin, in May and June, often within a matter of hours.

In announcing charges against 22-year-old Todd West, of Elizabeth, New Jersey, on Thursday, Union County Prosecutor Grace Park called the killing spree "unprecedented."

West is charged with killing three people and wounding a fourth in Elizabeth in a matter of hours, starting with 28-year-old Dennis Vega. Police say West, riding around in a white car, shot and killed Vega on the corner of New Point Road and Seventh Street at 2:30 a.m. on June 25. Later, he allegedly drove to Sixth Street at South Street Park, where authorities say he shot 28-year-old Jamil Payne, who was found suffering from multiple gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene.

As police were investigating that crime, West allegedly drove a mile away and murdered 32-year-old Kevin Nelson in front of 320 Park Place. Then he apparently tried to commit another murder 10 minutes later, but that victim survived.

In all the shootings, a white Buick Lacrosse was spotted at each scene. West was identified as the shooter, and cops realized he was the prime suspect in the May 18 murder of his cousin Michael Thompkins. West left Elizabeth after the crime wave and headed to Pennsylvania, where he allegedly shot and killed three more people over the Fourth of July weekend.

West and two others are being held after they were charged with killing a man and a woman in Allentown, Pennsylvania, on Sunday. They're also accused of killing a person in Easton, Pennsylvania, 45 minutes earlier.

Twenty-year-old Robert Jourdain of Easton, West, and 23-year-old Kareem Mitchell of Newark were arraigned Wednesday by video from Lehigh County Prison in Pennsylvania.

The prosecutor says the same handgun was used in all the shootings.

A magistrate told the defendants that they could face life in prison or the death penalty if convicted.

Authorities have said some of the shootings appeared to be random acts.