Editor's note: The above video previously aired on Feb. 1.
NEWARK, N.J. (PIX11) -- A 36-year-old man was arrested and charged on Wednesday in connection with the death of a 9-year-old boy who was shot in Newark.
Jesse J. Dunbar II has been charged with first-degree murder, first-degree attempted murder, second-degree aggravated assault, second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon and second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose.
Dunbar is accused of shooting and killing 9-year-old Yasin Morrison on Friday. According to police and Morrison's family, the child had just gotten out of a vehicle with his father and sister to spend the weekend with his grandmother when gunshots rang out.
“The killing of any person is a tragic occurrence, but it is particularly heinous when an innocent 9-year-old child loses their life to all too common senseless violence”, said Essex County Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens, II.
A 36-year-old man was also shot, but he does not appear to have any connection to Morrison, officials said.
Morrison’s aunt, Markeida, spoke with PIX11 News on Saturday, saying the boy was autistic and non-verbal. She called him loving and smart, with a deep love for Toy Story.
Newark Mayor Ras Baraka shared his outrage over Morrison’s death in a statement.
“It is sickening to me that anyone would be so deranged to recklessly endanger an innocent child. And that the child lost his life, is just infuriating to me as a father myself. We will not tolerate this reckless and dangerous behavior,” said Baraka.
Dominique Jack is a digital content producer from Brooklyn with more than five years of experience covering news. She joined PIX11 in 2024. More of her work can be found here.
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