Pennsylvania Father Arrested for Fatal Shooting of Mother and Grandmother in New Jersey Home Invasion

Junior Edwards, 33-year-old Catherine Nunez and her mother, 54-year-old Marisol Nunez

A Pennsylvania father was arrested on Friday and charged with the fatal shooting of the mother of his young son and the boy's grandmother after breaking into the victims' New Jersey home. Junior Edwards, 37, allegedly committed the heinous double homicide early Wednesday morning while his 8-year-old son was inside the Willingboro Township home, according to the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office.

The victims, 33-year-old Catherine Nunez and her mother, 54-year-old Marisol Nunez, sustained multiple gunshot wounds and were pronounced dead at the scene in an upstairs bedroom. Edwards reportedly smashed a first-floor window to gain entry into the home around 4 a.m. The child, who was present during the shooting, thankfully escaped physical harm. The handgun believed to be the murder weapon was discovered outside the residence, per the prosecutor's office.

While the motive for the attack remains undisclosed, the victims' family referred to Edwards as a "monster" who had allegedly made threats against them on numerous occasions. Wilson Nunez, Marisol's brother and Catherine's uncle, expressed the family's devastation, describing the loss as a stark reminder of life's fragility. In response to the tragedy, a GoFundMe page has been established to raise funds for the funeral expenses.

In addition to two counts of first-degree murder, Edwards faces charges of home invasion burglary with a firearm, unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and endangering the welfare of a child. These charges were brought against him while he was already in custody on unrelated charges in Philadelphia. The severity of the accusations underscores the gravity of the situation and the profound impact of the harrowing incident on the community.