A routine Friday evening visit to his grandparents' house turned into a tragedy for 9-year-old Yasin Morrison of Newark, New Jersey. On January 31, 2025, the young boy, who was autistic and non-verbal, was fatally shot as he and his family arrived on Osborne Terrace. The incident unfolded shortly before 5:30 p.m. as Yasin, his father Savon Morrison, and his 3-year-old sister were getting out of a ride-share vehicle. It was a cherished routine for the fourth-grader from Louise A.
Spencer Elementary School to spend the weekend with his grandmother.
Suddenly, the familiar street was shattered by the sound of nearly a dozen gunshots. In the chaos, Yasin's father instinctively tried to shield his children, pushing them back into the car for safety, but it was too late. Yasin was struck by bullets in the torso and, according to some reports, in the back of the head. His father was also grazed by a bullet. Another adult male, who was not with the family, was also shot and wounded. Yasin was rushed to University Hospital, but he was pronounced dead upon arrival.
The senseless killing of an innocent child sparked outrage and a determined investigation by the Essex County Prosecutor's Office, which assigned up to 50 people to the case. Their efforts, described as 'dogged police work,' led to a swift arrest. On February 5, 2025, authorities announced the capture of 36-year-old Jesse J. Dunbar II of Newark. Investigators believe Dunbar was stalking the other man who was shot and that Yasin was an innocent bystander caught in the gunfire. Surveillance video reportedly showed Dunbar firing from a distance and later leaving the scene in a Lyft, which was ultimately traced back to him.
Jesse J. Dunbar II has been charged with a litany of offenses, including first-degree murder, first-degree attempted murder, second-degree aggravated assault, and multiple weapons offenses. He appeared in court virtually where his public defender entered a plea of not guilty on his behalf. While the arrest brought a measure of relief to the grieving family and community, they remain heartbroken by the loss of a compassionate little boy who, his grandmother said, 'taught me unconditional love.'
