In the summer of 2019, the life of Gregory Wright, a 34-year-old Black/African American man, was tragically cut short in Irvington, New Jersey. On the evening of June 19th, at approximately 8:56 p.m., the sound of gunfire shattered the peace on the 100 block of Maple Avenue. When Irvington police officers arrived at the scene, they discovered Wright suffering from a gunshot wound.
Emergency medical services quickly transported him to University Hospital in Newark in an effort to save his
life. Despite their efforts, Gregory Wright was pronounced dead at 9:24 p.m., less than thirty minutes after the shooting. The incident prompted an immediate and intensive investigation led by the Essex County Prosecutor's Office Homicide/Major Crimes Task Force, who worked in conjunction with the Irvington Police Department to piece together the events of that fateful night.
Within a week, their investigation led to a significant development. On June 26, 2019, authorities announced the arrest of 26-year-old Matthew Beckley, also a resident of Irvington. Beckley was taken into custody by detectives from the Essex County Prosecutor's Office and charged with murder and illegal possession of a weapon in connection with the shooting of Gregory Wright. Following his arrest, Beckley was held at the Essex County Correctional Facility in Newark. Authorities have continued to ask for anyone with additional information regarding the incident to come forward.
