A team of more than 50 federal, state, county and local law enforcement officers executed a series of federal arrest warrants early this morning in connection with the kidnapping and murder of Nadirah Ruffin.
Police say Nadirah Ruffin was with four other women in a private residence in Atlantic City on March 26, 2011, when a number of intruders wearing masks and dark, hooded sweatshirts and armed with handguns entered the residence. The intruders bound and blindfolded the women, then searched the residence for drugs and money.
At least two of the women were pistol-whipped by the intruders, who remained for 30 to 40 minutes before leaving, taking Nadirah Ruffin with them.
Her body was found in the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia on April 19th.
An autopsy revealed she died from a gunshot wound.
Three Atlantic City residents - Shamerria Smith, 24, Aziz Sanders, 18, and Deshawn Hicks, 19 - were taken into custody this morning on federal warrants in connection with Ruffin's death. They were charged with kidnapping resulting in the victim's death, robbery and weapons offenses.
Two other men were arrested and charged with tampering with a potential witness in connection with the investigation. Henry Ruffin, 40, of Williamstown, and Ronnie Ruffin, 42, of Lindenwold (neither of whom are related to Nadirah Ruffin), are accused of using physical force and threats of physical force to prevent a witness from providing information to the FBI and other investigating officers.
Ronnie Ruffin is defendant Smith's father. Henry Ruffin is an uncle to defendants Smith, Sanders and Isiah Ruffin.
Isiah Ruffin (no relation to Nadirah Ruffin), 20, of Atlantic City, was arrested and charged with giving false information to FBI special agents who were investigating the disappearance and death of Nadirah Ruffin.
Atlantic City Police Department SWAT Team and detectives, the Philadelphia office of the FBI, and the N.J. State Police participated in today's arrest operation.
