Suspects in deadly Short Hills mall carjacking arraigned, plead not guilty

NEWARK, N.J. -- Four men charged in connection with a carjacking and murder at the Mall at Short Hills in December were arraigned Wednesday.

All four suspects were indicted on felony murder charges in September, and all four pleaded not guilty.

Justin Friedland was killed while returning to his car after shopping with his wife. Police said the men shot Friedland in the head before stealing his Range Rover.

The suspects also face carjacking, conspiracy and weapons charges in the six-count indictment handed up by an Essex County grand jury.

Hanif Thompson, of Irvington, and Newark residents Karif Ford, Basim Henry and Kevin Roberts are accused in the December 15 carjacking and killing.

Authorities have said Friedland, a 30-year-old lawyer from Hoboken, was killed while returning to his car in the mall parking garage with his wife, Jamie Schare Friedland, after a shopping trip. The carjackers confronted the couple, and Friedland was shot in the head. His wife was unharmed.

The assailants drove off in the couple's silver Range Rover, which was found the next morning in Newark, about 10 miles from Short Hills. Prosecutors have said the couple was targeted solely because of the make of their vehicle.

Schare Friedland filed a wrongful death lawsuit earlier this year, seeking unspecified damages. The suit claims the mall owners reduced security to increase profits and first responders mishandled a call for help, allegations those parties deny.