Authorities have charged four people in connection with the August shooting death of a parent at a youth football practice.

Joseph L. Jones, 37, of Millville, was shot to death in the parking lot of Lakeside Middle School in Millville on Aug. 9.

Joseph L. Jones (Facebook)

Eugene Cosby, 42, of Malaga, and Will El-Bey, 22, of Vineland, are charged with homicide and conspiracy to commit homicide.

Police recovered a gun from El-Bey's home.

Genea Hughes-Lee, 34, of Malaga and Tyrell Hart, 22, of Vineland, are charged with conspiracy to hinder apprehension, hindering apprehension, obstruction and false reports to law enforcement.

The arrests followed a two month investigation involving Cumberland County Prosecutor's Office, Millville Police and New Jersey State Police.

Jones was killed by a masked gunman as parents and children were walking back to their cars after football practice. Police previously said they believed Jones was targeted.

An Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office detective followed the suspects' vehicle, a Pontiac Grand Prix, onto Route 55 north out of Millville after the shooting and the suspects fired on the detective's car before eluding him on Garden Road in Vineland, according to an affidavit of probable cause.

Investigators received approval to tap Cosby's and El-Bay's phones and intercepted conversations and text messages implicating them in the plot to kill Jones and to cover up the crime after the fact, according to the affidavits.

The documents don't describe a motive for the killing.

During a search of El-Bey's home, police reported that a Glock 9mm handgun was recovered "which is similar to shell casing recovered at the scene of the murder," according to an affidavit.

A search of Cosby's home turned up heroin, cash and drug distribution materials. Police also found "devices and other evidence relating to Cosby's involvement in a dog-fighting enterprise."

Detectives also learned that an Acura TL followed the Pontiac from Vineland into Millville and was present in the school parking lot during the shooting. That car was registered to Hughes-Lee, who was in a relationship with Cosby, according to police.

While Hughes-Lee originally told police she had lent her Acura to Hart on the day of the shooting, she later admitted to police that Cosby was driving the vehicle. Hart had told police that he was driving the car. As a result, Hughes-Lee and Hart were charged for lying to investigators.

Cellphone data obtained for Cosby and El-Bay also showed they were traveling in a path matching the Pontiac and the Acura on the day of the killing, investigators note in the affidavits.

All four defendants were placed in Cumberland County Jail pending detention hearings.

The investigation is ongoing and anyone with additional information is asked to contact prosecutor's office Lt. George Chopek at 609-381-2046.

Tips may also be submitted anonymously by using the CCPOTIP app, by texting 847411 with CCPOTIP and your tip in the message line, or by going to the office's Facebook page.

Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattGraySJT. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us: nj.com/tips.