23-YEAR-OLD MAN ARRESTED AND CHARGED WITH MURDER OF 21-YEAR-OLD JERSEY CITY MAN

Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez has released the following information:

The Hudson County Prosecutor’s Homicide Unit arrested and charged Devon Tutten, age 23, of Jersey City, in connection with the shooting death of 21-year-old Akim Ward on April 4, 2020, in Jersey City.

Tutten was arrested just after 4:30 p.m. on Monday, May 4, 2020 after turning himself in to the Prosecutor’s Office Homicide Unit on Duncan Avenue.

Tutten has been charged with Murder in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:11-3A(1)(2), a first-degree crime; Possession of a Weapon (firearm) for an Unlawful Purpose in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4A(1), a second-degree crime; and Unlawful Possession of a Weapon (firearm) in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5B(1), a second-degree crime.

On Saturday, April 4, 2020, shortly after 3:15 p.m., members of the Jersey City Police Department responded to a report of shots fired in the area of Ocean Avenue between Bidwell and Bayview Avenues in Jersey City.

Responding officers found the victim, a 21-year-old Jersey City male, later identified as Akim Ward, with gunshot wound(s) to the upper body. The victim was transported to the Jersey City Medical Center where he was pronounced deceased at 3:31 p.m. The cause of death was determined to be gunshot wounds and the manner of death was determined to be homicide.

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

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