On the evening of November 30, 2022, a 25-year-old Black man named Lance Sally Jr. was fatally shot in Newark, New Jersey. Known to his friends and family as 'BU,' Sally was an aspiring underground rapper and a devoted father. He was born on January 14, 1997, in Morristown and had spent much of his life in Bloomfield, where he was a notable football player in high school.
The incident occurred around 7:34 p.m. on the 100 block of Salem Street in Newark's West Ward.
Police responded to reports of gunfire and, upon arrival, found Sally with multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene at 7:55 p.m. The investigation into his death was handled by the Essex County Prosecutor's Office Homicide/Major Crimes Task Force.
While initially no arrests were made, the investigation led to Itiyanah Spruill, a 30-year-old woman from Newark. After a two-week trial, Spruill was convicted of murder and conspiracy to commit murder in connection with Sally's death. According to the Essex County Prosecutor's Office, Spruill lured Sally to the location where he was shot and drove the vehicle used in the homicide. The individual who shot Sally has been described as an unidentified individual. For her role in the crime, Spruill faces a sentence of 30 years to life in prison.
