FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Raymond Worrall
PHONE: (201) 795-6400 Ext. 6737
EMAIL: rworrall@hcpo.org
TWITTER: @HCPOProsecutor
WEB: www.hcpo.org
DATE: November 6, 2018
TWO MEN ARRESTED AND CHARGED WITH MURDER OF 17-YEAR-OLD GIRL IN JERSEY CITY
Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez has released the following information:
On Monday, November 5, 2018, members of the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide Unit arrested Alterik Ellis, age 25, of Jersey City, and Travis Defoe, age 28, of Jersey City, in connection with the murder of Jade Saunders on October 26 in a shooting incident on Brinkerhoff Street in Jersey City.
Ellis, age 25, of Jersey City, was arrested without incident on Lexington Street in Jersey City at approximately 11:20 a.m. Defoe, age 28, of Jersey City, was arrested without incident on Lexington Street shortly after noon.
Ellis and Defoe have been charged with Murder in violation of N.J.S. 2C:11-3; Conspiracy to Commit Murder in violation of N.J.S. 2C:5-2 and N.J.S. 2C:11-3; three counts of Aggravated Assault in violation of N.J.S. 2C:12-1; Possession of a Weapon (Firearm) for an Unlawful Purpose in violation of N.J.S. 2C:39-4; Unlawful Possession of a Weapon (Firearm) in violation of N.J.S. 2C:39-5; and Theft of Moveable Property in violation of N.J.S. 2C:20-3.
Ellis and Defoe were processed and transported to the Hudson County Correctional Facility in Kearny to await their first appearance.
Prosecutor Suarez credited the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide Unit for the investigation and arrest with the assistance of the Jersey City Police Department.
On Friday, October 26, 2018, at approximately 11:35 p.m., the Jersey City Police Department received a report of shots fired in the area of 76 Brinkerhoff Street in Jersey City. Upon arrival, Jersey City Police Officers found an unresponsive female victim at that location with an apparent gunshot wound to the upper body.
The victim, identified as Jade Saunders, age 17, of Jersey City, was pronounced dead at the scene. The Regional Medical Examiner’s Office has found the Cause of death to be a gunshot wound and the Manner of death to be homicide.
A second victim, age 26, of Jersey City, was found at the scene. He suffered a gunshot injury to a lower extremity. He was transported by Emergency Medical Services to the Jersey City Medical Center where he was treated and then later released.
During the investigation into the incident, it was determined by members of the Homicide Unit that two additional shooting victims who did not remain at the scene had also been injured.
One of the additional victims, age 19, from Jersey City, sustained a gunshot-graze wound to his torso and the other victim, age 19, from Jersey City, sustained a gunshot wound to one of his upper extremities.
The above charges are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. R.P.C.3.6(b)(6).