In the late hours of a Tuesday evening, a tragic event unfolded on a street in Newark, New Jersey, forever altering the lives of those involved. On July 20, 2021, Leeana Cottle, a 21-year-old female, was fatally shot. The incident occurred at approximately 11:30 p.m. on the 200 block of South 10th Street. Emergency services transported her to University Hospital, but her injuries proved too severe, and she was pronounced dead at 11:50 p.m.
According to sources close to the investigation,
Cottle’s death was an act of heroic intervention. It is believed she was attempting to shield a friend from a violent domestic dispute. Cottle reportedly stepped in between her female friend and a male acquaintance during a heated altercation. In a sudden escalation of violence, the male suspect allegedly shot Cottle.
In the days following the shooting, law enforcement officials made an arrest in connection with the case. Wesley Jean-Marie, a 32-year-old resident of Valley Stream, New York, was taken into custody in his hometown without incident. The Essex County Prosecutor's Office announced that Jean-Marie was charged with murder, unlawful possession of a weapon, and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose. Following his arrest, he was held in New York, awaiting extradition to New Jersey to face the charges against him. The investigation was a collaborative effort between the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide/Major Crimes Task Force and the Newark Police Department, with assistance from law enforcement in New York.
