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Kevin James Shoop, 24, of Teaneck and 20-year-old Kayla Thomas of Paramus were carrying 20 bags of the drug when officers approached them on 54th Street near Broadway Tuesday night, Police Chief Michael Foligno said.
Shoop’s brother, Richard, opened fire at the mall the night of Nov. 4, 2013, causing a panic followed by a lockdown and massive law enforcement response, before shooting himself in a remote area of the plaza (SEE: Prosecutor: Garden State Plaza shooter used rifle similar to AK-47).
Hackensack police later said that he he’d been part of a newtwork importing raw materials from China to manufacture and distribute MDMA.
The day after the mall shootings, Kevin Shoop spoke with reporters outside the family house in Teaneck.
“My brother intended to harm nobody else but himself,” he said. “This was something that none of us saw coming.”
Authorities said Kevin Shoop was the one who tipped off police that his brother was the shooter after hearing an initial news report. He’d gone to the mall looking for Richard after finding a disturbing note and noticing his gun and helmet gone.
Shoop and Thomas were released without bail Tuesday pending a Municipal Court hearing on drug possession charges.
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