In the early morning hours of March 16, 2021, the life of 19-year-old Aaliyah Eubanks was tragically cut short in her Bridgeton, New Jersey apartment. A single mother to a one-year-old son, Eubanks had just returned home from a 16-hour shift as a nursing home caregiver. Less than three hours later, a horrifying scene unfolded when three unidentified individuals broke into her home on South Burlington Road. A 13-year-old in the apartment alerted police that her nephew's mother had been shot.
Responding officers discovered Aaliyah Eubanks in her upstairs apartment with multiple gunshot wounds. She was transported to a local hospital where she succumbed to her injuries. According to her mother, Eubanks was dragged from her bed and tied up before she was shot six times. The motive for this violent act remains a mystery, as her family described her as someone not involved in any dangerous activities.
Surveillance footage captured three men at the back door of her apartment, appearing familiar with the area.
The investigation into Eubanks' death continued for over a year. A significant breakthrough came in August 2021 when police divers recovered an Intratec Tec-9 semi-automatic pistol from Union Lake in Millville, which ballistic tests indicated was the weapon used in her murder. On May 17, 2022, authorities announced the arrest of 35-year-old Donavan E. Watts of Millville. He was charged with murder and conspiracy to commit murder in connection with Aaliyah Eubanks' death and was subsequently indicted by a grand jury in August 2022.
At the time of his arrest, Watts was already incarcerated in the Atlantic County Jail. Investigators have stated their confidence that he did not act alone and have identified other persons of interest. The investigation remains ongoing as authorities encourage anyone with information to come forward to bring full justice for Aaliyah Eubanks and her family.
