Jersey City police officers arrested a third man in connection with the murder of 17-year-old Stephanie Jacques of Jersey City and attempted murder of an unnamed 18-year-old this past April.
On Dec. 4 at approximately 6:45 p.m. police arrested Jersey City resident Jeremy Perez, 22, of Jersey City, in the area of Danforth Avenue and Old Bergen Road in Jersey City.
According to the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, he is charged with Murder, a first-degree crime; Attempted Murder, a first-degree crime; Conspiracy to Commit Murder, a first-degree crime; Possession of a Weapon (firearm) for an Unlawful Purpose, a second-degree crime; Unlawful Possession of a Weapon (firearm), a second-degree crime; and Receiving Stolen Property, a third-degree crime.
On April 1, shortly before 8 p.m., Jersey City police officers responded to a report of shots fired in the area of Martin Luther King Drive and Forrest Street in Jersey City.
Officers found an 18-year-old male victim who had sustained gunshot wound(s) to the lower body, and he was transported to Jersey City Medical Center where he was treated.
Officers also found a second victim, a 17-year-old female, later identified as Stephanie Jacques, on the corner of Martin Luther King Drive and Oak Street who also sustained a gunshot wound to her lower body.
She was transported to Jersey City Medical Center for treatment and was later released.
She was re-transported to Jersey City Medical Center on the morning of April 2, and pronounced dead at 10:57 a.m.
The cause of death was the gunshot wound and the manner of death was homicide, according to the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office.
The Hudson County Prosecutor’s Homicide Unit previously arrested and charged Jersey City residents Darby Shirden, age 20, and Shaquan Rush, age 20 in connection with the shooting.
Shirden was arrested on April 7, just after 11 p.m. without incident, with the assistance of the Jersey City Police Department Street Crimes Unit. Rush was arrested without incident on April 8, just after 9 a.m.
Shirden and Rush were charged with Murder, Attempted Murder, Conspiracy to Commit Murder, Possession of a Firearm for an Unlawful Purpose, Unlawful Possession of a Firearm, and Receiving Stolen Property.
Prosecutor Esther Suarez credited the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide Unit and the Jersey City Police Department for the investigation and arrests.
The above charges are merely accusations. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
