Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison for 2018 Fatal Shooting

Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison for 2018 Fatal Shooting


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Caitlin Mota
PHONE: (201) 577-6699
EMAIL: cmota@hcpo.org
DATE: Monday, August 15, 2022

MAN SENTENCED TO 30 YEARS IN PRISON FOR 2018 FATAL SHOOTING IN JERSEY CITY

Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez has released the following information:

On Friday, August 12, 2022, the Honorable Angelo Servidio sentenced James Crawford, 24, to 30 years in New Jersey State Prison for his role in the shooting death of Eric Crocker, 23, in Jersey City on September 4, 2018.

Crawford, of Jersey City, was convicted by a jury of Murder in violation N.J.S.A. 2C:11-3a(1)(2), a crime of the first degree, Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose 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. Crawford will not be eligible for parole for 30 years.

Following a four week trial, the jury was hung on the Conspiracy to Commit Murder charge against Crawford and could not reach a unanimous decision on the Murder and Conspiracy to Commit Murder charges brought against codefendant Alexander Harris, 33, of Jersey City. The Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office intends to have Harris retried on the charges. A third codefendant, Jahmir Thomas, pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Aggravated Assault.

On Tuesday, September 4, 2018, at approximately 5:55 p.m., the Jersey City Police Department received a report of gunshots in the area of Lembeck Avenue and Ocean Avenue in Jersey City. Upon arrival, responding officers found a male victim, later identified as Eric Crocker, 23, of Bayonne, with multiple gunshot wounds to his torso. He was pronounced dead at Jersey City Medical Center at approximately 6:30 p.m. The Regional Medical Examiner’s Office determined the Cause of Death to be multiple gunshot wounds to the torso and the Manner of Death to be Homicide.

The State is represented in this matter by Hudson County Assistant Prosecutors David Feldman and Dennis Murray.