THREE CHARGED IN CONNECTION WITH FATAL SHOOTING OF 17-YEAR-OLD JERSEY CITY GIRL

Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez has released the following information:

The Hudson County Prosecutor’s Homicide Unit has charged three individuals in connection with the fatal shooting of a 17-year-old Jersey City girl, Tyeah Garner, on July 6, 2020 on Rutgers Avenue.

Heavenley Cherry, 19, of Jersey City, has been charged with Murder in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:11-3A(1), a crime of the first-degree; Murder as an Accomplice in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:2-6 and 2C:11-3A(1)(2), a crime of the first-degree; Conspiracy to Commit Murder in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:5-2A(1) and 2C:11-3A(1), a crime of the first-degree; Possession of a Weapon for Unlawful Purposes in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4A(1), a crime of the second-degree; and Unlawful Possession of a Weapon in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5B(1), a crime of the second-degree.

Jahquell Carter, 24, of Jersey City, has been charged with Murder as an Accomplice in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:2-6 and 2C:11-3A(1)(2), a crime of the first-degree; Conspiracy to Commit Murder in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:5-2A(1) and 2C:11-3A(1), a crime of the first-degree; Possession of a Weapon for Unlawful Purposes in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4A(1), a crime of the second-degree; and Unlawful Possession of a Weapon in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5B(1), a crime of the second-degree.

Cherry is currently being detained at the Bergen County Youth Detention Center on an unrelated matter. Carter remains at large and anyone with information about his whereabouts should contact the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide Unit at 201-915-1345 or to leave an anonymous tip at: http://www.hudsoncountyprosecutorsofficenj.org/homicide-tip/. All information will be kept confidential. If anyone sees Carter, he should not be approached and police should be contacted immediately.

Izmae Tinker-Trent, 19, of Jersey City, has also been charged with Hindering a Murder Investigation in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:29-3A(2), a crime of the third-degree. Tinker-Trent is scheduled to make her first court appearance on Tuesday, July 28, 2020.

On Monday, July 6, 2020, just after 10:30 p.m., members of the Jersey City Police Department responded to shots fired in the area of Rutgers Avenue and New Street in Jersey City.

Responding officers found the victim, a 17-year-old Jersey City female, later identified as Tyeah Garner, with a gunshot wound to the upper body. The victim was transported to the Jersey City Medical Center where she was pronounced deceased at 4:36 a.m. on Tuesday, July 7, 2020. The Regional Medical Examiner’s Office determined the cause of death to be a gunshot wound to the head and the manner of death to be homicide.

Prosecutor Suarez credited the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide Unit and the Jersey City Police Department for the investigation and arrest.

The above charges are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. R.P.C.3.6(b)(6).