CUMBERLAND COUNTY, N.J. (TCN) — A 55-year-old father and his 17-year-old son stand accused of killing a man who tried to confront them over his daughter’s alleged assault.
According to the Cumberland County Prosecutor’s Office, on Saturday, April 19, Eric Hannah’s son, identified by prosecutors only as J.H., allegedly assaulted Louis “Gus” Serbeck’s daughter. The following day, Serbeck and his daughter reportedly went to speak with Hannah about the incident.
Prosecutors allege J.H. and Serbeck met at the front door, and a physical altercation ensued. J.H. sustained facial injuries during the fight and allegedly struck Serbeck in the head multiple times with a metal baseball bat. Hannah is accused of joining in and hitting Serbeck in the back of the head with a metal flashlight. According to the prosecutor’s office, J.H. struck Serbeck’s daughter in the head during the altercation.
Vineland Police and emergency medical services personnel responded. Serbeck was transported to a medical facility and was going to be flown to another hospital but died en route.
Serbeck’s brother told WPVI-TV that the victim “literally laid his life down for his daughter.”
Hannah and J.H. faces charges of homicide and other weapons offenses. J.H. faces a separate charge of aggravated assault for the alleged attack on Serbeck’s daughter.
Hannah remains held in the Cumberland County Jail, and his son was booked into a juvenile facility.