FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Raymond Worrall
PHONE: (201) 795-6400 Ext. 6737
EMAIL: rworrall@hcpo.org
DATE: May 10, 2019
JERSEY CITY MAN WANTED IN CONNECTION WITH HOMICIDE ARRESTED IN GEORGIA
Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez has released the following information:
On Thursday, May 9, 2019, shortly after 1:00 p.m., officers with the Smyrna Police Department in Georgia, arrested Elnardo Chandler, age 29, of Jersey City, after initiating a traffic stop of a Honda Accord on Windy Hill Road in Smyrna, Georgia, for an alleged speeding violation. During the arrest, it was discovered that Chandler was wanted in connection with the death of Glen Mackie, Jr. on Lexington Avenue in Jersey City on July 5, 2018. Chandler is now awaiting extradition proceedings to Hudson County.
Prosecutor Suarez thanked the officers from the Smyrna Police Department for the arrest with assistance from the Hudson County Sheriff’s Office. She credited the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Homicide Unit with the investigation with assistance from the Jersey City Police Department.
On Thursday, July 5, 2018, at approximately 12:15 a.m., Jersey City Police Officers were dispatched to the area of Lexington Avenue in Jersey City on a report of a street fight. Upon arrival, responding officers found Mackie, age 29, of Jersey City, on the sidewalk in the area of 21 Lexington Avenue.
Mackie was unresponsive with an obvious wound to his head. He was transported by Emergency Medical Services to the Jersey City Medical Center. He was pronounced dead at approximately 5:00 p.m. on Friday, July 6, 2018. The Medical Examiner determined the cause of death to be blunt force trauma to the head and manner of death to be homicide.
On July 10, 2018, Chandler and Bruce Stewart, age 24, of West New York, were charged with Reckless Manslaughter in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:11-4. Stewart was arrested by members of the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide Unit on July 30, 2018, in Jersey City without incident. Chandler has been a fugitive from justice since July 10, 2018.
On October 23, 2018, Chandler and Stewart were indicted by a Hudson County Grand Jury and charged with Manslaughter in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:11-4, a second-degree crime; Aggravated Assault in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1, a second-degree crime; and Endangering an Injured Victim in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C: 12-1.2, a third-degree crime. Stewart was arraigned on these charges on November 13, 2018.
The above charges are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. R.P.C.3.6(b)(6).