In the spring of 2020, the life of 30-year-old Michael Phillip Wyche, a Black / African American male from Newark, New Jersey, was tragically cut short. On the afternoon of Friday, March 27, 2020, Wyche was in the parking lot of the New Community Corporation Housing Complex on Hayes Street when gunfire erupted. He was struck by the bullets and sustained severe injuries. Emergency services were called to the scene at approximately 1:24 p.m., and Wyche was rushed to University Hospital.
Despite the efforts of medical staff, he was pronounced dead at 1:51 p.m. Another man was also shot during the incident but survived his injuries.
The investigation into Michael Wyche's death was handled by the Essex County Prosecutor's Office Homicide/Major Crimes Task Force, with assistance from Newark Police detectives. The investigation led to the arrests of four individuals. The first to be taken into custody, on May 5, was 22-year-old Al-Fatin Grant of Newark. In a startling revelation, it was discovered that Grant was a correctional police officer with the New Jersey Department of Corrections. He was subsequently suspended from his position. Grant was charged with murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and hindering apprehension.
As the investigation progressed, three other suspects were identified and apprehended. On May 29, Scott Banks, 32, of Irvington, was arrested and charged with murder, attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder, unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for an illegal purpose, and eluding. The following day, a series of search warrants were executed in Newark and Irvington. This operation, a collaborative effort between the Essex County Prosecutor's Office Homicide Task Force, the FBI Violent Crime and Fugitive Task Force, and the Newark Police Department, resulted in the arrests of 27-year-old Trevon Ellis and 31-year-old Ahmad Fields, both of Newark. Ellis and Fields were each charged with conspiracy to commit murder.
