In the early hours of a spring morning in Newark, New Jersey, the life of 27-year-old Malik Carson was tragically cut short. On May 10, 2019, at approximately 1:45 a.m., Carson was in the 100 block of Mount Prospect Avenue when he was fatally shot. Emergency services arrived at the scene and transported him to University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead a short time later at 2:07 a.m.
Known to his loved ones as 'Itty Bit,' Malik was remembered as a kind-hearted and respectable
young man who was born in Newark on November 21, 1991. He was a graduate of West Side High School and had been working as a warehouse associate for three years. Those who knew him described him as someone who enjoyed laughter and jokes, always wearing a smile. He had a passion for fashion, often heading to the mall after work to buy new clothes, and he cherished spending time with his family and friends.
Following an investigation into the shooting, authorities from the Essex County Prosecutor's Office and the Newark Public Safety Division announced an arrest. Jacquil Spruill, a 26-year-old resident of Newark, was taken into custody and charged in connection with Malik Carson's death.
Spruill faced multiple serious charges, including felony murder, conspiracy to commit robbery, unlawful possession of a weapon, and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose. In addition to the charges directly related to the death of Carson, he was also charged with six counts of robbery involving six other individuals. Following his arrest, Spruill was held at the Essex County Correctional Facility.
