BRIDGETON, NJ – A New Jersey father who sought to protect his teenage daughter ended up losing his life in a violent confrontation with a former family friend and his son. Authorities charged 55-year-old Eric Hannah and his 17-year-old son, identified by his initials, J.H., with homicide following the death of Louis “Gus” Serbeck, 54, after an altercation in Bridgeton, according to the Cumberland County Prosecutor’s Office.
The tragic events unfolded when Serbeck and his daughter visited Hannah’s residence on Easter Sunday to address an alleged assault on his daughter by J.H. the previous day. As tensions escalated at the front door, a physical fight ensued, leading to Serbeck’s death by the end of the confrontation.
Prosecutors detailed that during the altercation, J.H. allegedly attacked Serbeck with a metal baseball bat, delivering multiple blows to his head while sustaining injuries himself. Hannah then allegedly joined the fray, assaulting Serbeck with a flashlight. Serbeck’s daughter was reportedly struck in the head by J.H. as well.
Emergency services arrived quickly, transporting Serbeck to a nearby hospital. However, he succumbed to his injuries in the ambulance en route.
Both father and son were detained shortly after the incident. Hannah faces charges including homicide, aggravated assault, conspiracy, and weapons violations and remains in the Cumberland County Jail without bond. J.H., charged similarly with homicide and weapons offenses, is being held in a juvenile detention center. It remains undecided whether he will be tried as an adult.
Additionally, J.H. is charged with aggravated assault concerning the initial complaint filed by Serbeck’s daughter.
The altercation has shaken the local community, especially given the previous close ties between the families involved. Christopher Serbeck, the victim’s younger brother, expressed disbelief at the altercation, describing the Hannah family as lifelong friends. The unexpected violence has left both families and the community grappling with shock and confusion, altering long-standing relationships irrevocably.
Authorities continue to investigate the incident to piece together the exact sequence of events that led to the fatal confrontation as the legal proceedings against Hannah and his son move forward. The community remains stunned by the sudden transformation of a family friendship into a tragedy that has permanently altered numerous lives.