In the late hours of a September night in Newark, New Jersey, tragedy befell 41-year-old Wayne Jones. On September 17, 2022, just before midnight, the sound of gunfire echoed through the 100 block of Ridgewood Avenue. When police arrived at the scene, they discovered Jones suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was rushed to University Hospital for medical attention, but his injuries proved to be too severe.
In the early morning hours of September 18, Wayne Jones, a resident of East Orange, was pronounced dead.
The investigation into the fatal shooting was swiftly undertaken by the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide/Major Crimes Task Force, which includes detectives from the Newark Police Department. It was soon revealed that Jones was not the only person shot that night; another male victim was found at the scene with gunshot wounds. Fortunately, this individual survived the attack.
As investigators delved into the circumstances surrounding the shooting, a suspect was identified. Marquis McCray, a 32-year-old man from Newark, was arrested in connection with the incident. Authorities announced that McCray had been charged with the murder of Wayne Jones. In addition to the murder charge, McCray faced charges of attempted murder for the wounding of the second victim, as well as four weapons offenses.
The investigation into the death of Wayne Jones remained active and ongoing following the arrest of Marquis McCray. Law enforcement officials continued to seek information from the public to piece together the events that led to the deadly shooting on Ridgewood Avenue.
