In the early morning hours of May 9, 2015, the life of 16-year-old Terence West Jr., a Black male, was tragically cut short in Newburgh, New York. He was fatally shot outside his family’s residence at the Lake Street Apartments. According to prosecutors, the young man was lured outside by a text message before the deadly encounter unfolded. Responders rushed him to St. Luke's-Cornwall Hospital's Newburgh campus, but he ultimately succumbed to his injuries.
The incident cast a somber shadow over the city, leaving a family and community to grapple with the sudden and violent loss of a young life. His funeral was held at the Holy Temple Church, where many gathered to pay their respects.
For three years, the case remained a painful open wound for the Newburgh community as investigators worked to bring justice for Terence. The breakthrough came in May 2018 with the arrest of 25-year-old Jamaad Murphy of the neighboring Town of Wallkill. A grand jury indicted Murphy on charges of second-degree murder and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, alleging his responsibility for the fatal shooting of the teenager.
In January 2019, the trial against Jamaad Murphy commenced in Orange County Court. Represented by his attorney, Murphy maintained his innocence as the prosecution, led by a senior assistant district attorney, presented its case. While awaiting and during the trial, Murphy remained held in the Orange County Jail. The community closely followed the legal proceedings, hoping for a resolution that would bring a measure of peace and closure to the family of Terence West Jr. and the city at large.
