Repo Redemption Turns Deadly

One Dead in New Jersey

West Orange, NJ – February 5, 2024 – John Berlew last saw the victim arguing with a man who had just paid to get his car back. Minutes later, more than half-a-dozen rounds were fired and Berlew’s friend was found gunned down in a car on the lot.

It was Sunday afternoon, When John Berlew, a friend of the still unnamed victim who worked for a nearby tow and repo company, saw him arguing with a man who he had seen paying the redemption fees to get his car.

Berlew then says that his friend had pulled out the Nissan, he believed, to release to the man.

Repo Redemption Turns Deadly “I heard about seven or eight shots ring out and looked out the window and saw about four or five officers pulling up on the street, and within five minutes, the entire street was roped off,” said a man in the neighborhood, Nabeel Siraj to Eyewitness News.

Moments later, the victim was found dead inside a dark-colored Subaru. The car was peppered with bullet holes. The driver’s side window was shattered and an apparent bullet exit hole penetrated the passenger side.

“I never thought that this would happen – shocking to see that,” said Burlew.

Repo Redemption Turns Deadly — Click to enlarge

According to friends of the victim, he worked at TIRS Recovery Service and Towing located at the corner of Ashland Ave. According to Burlew , the victim “was the money man behind the operation.” This statement seems to imply that he was possibly an owner.

There is so far no more information released.

Source: Eyewitness News 7

Editors Note: Sunday is an awfully unusual day for a repossession reinstatement. The company sign showed in the new story showed no mention of repossession services. I can find no association mention or website presence. It is possible that this was not a repossession related murder, but a private property tow recovery. We will keep you posted. – Kevin