4 charged with murder in Newark mass shooting last month
Almuta Thomas, Furquan Boykin, Quayon Williams-King and an unnamed 16-year-old are all charged with murder and conspiracy.
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Four people have been charged with murder in a Newark mass shooting that killed three people and injured two others.
The shooting happened last month around 8:30 p.m. along Chancellor Avenue, according to the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office.
Officials said the victims were 10-year-old Jordan Garcia, 21-year-old Kiyah Mae Scott and 19-year-old Masi Rogers. Two others - Garcia’s 11-year-old brother and a 60-year-old man - survived with non-critical injuries.
Almuta Thomas, Furquan Boykin, Quayon Williams-King and an unnamed 16-year-old are all charged with murder and conspiracy. Thomas and Williams-King are also charged with the theft and arson of a vehicle.
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The prosecutor says that stolen and burned vehicle played a key role in moving this case forward. The car was stolen 20 days before the shooting and then burned shortly afterward. Police tracked down a vehicle that fled the arson scene. That led them to arresting two people, including Williams-King.
"This was an exhaustive effort,” said Essex County Prosecutor Theodore Stephens II.
"We said that we would bring them to justice, and we did,” said Newark Mayor Ras Baraka (D). “I'm thankful for that."
The prosecutor did not confirm a motive. He said the current belief is that the shooting stemmed from an earlier robbery, and that one of the five victims was a target. There could be more arrests.
"That's a call, a demand to every Newark community member and visitor that says that we have a part to play in keeping our streets safe and free of gun violence,” said city Public Safety Director Emanual Miranda.
