In the late afternoon of March 20, 2019, in Irvington, New Jersey, 18-year-old Marquise Jenkins, a Black/African American male, was fatally shot in the vicinity of Irvington High School. The incident occurred shortly after 3 p.m. on Clinton Avenue. Jenkins was a student at the high school. First responders found him with gunshot wounds and transported him to University Hospital in Newark, where he was pronounced dead.
Surveillance footage from the area captured Jenkins running from a hooded individual who was shooting at him.
The killing of the teenager prompted an investigation by the Essex County Prosecutor's Office Homicide Task Force and the Irvington Police Department. For over two years, the case remained without an arrest. Jenkins was remembered by some as a nice kid who had moved to Irvington from Newark to get a fresh start and leave behind past rivalries. The shooting was a stark reminder of the gun violence that has plagued the community.
In June of 2021, a breakthrough in the case was announced. A federal grand jury indicted three alleged members of the 'Rollin' 60s Neighborhood Crips' gang in connection with a series of violent crimes, including what authorities believe to be the murder of Marquise Jenkins. The indictment accused 21-year-old Elijah Williams, also known as 'Lil Smith,' of fatally shooting Jenkins with the assistance of 37-year-old Jason Franklin, known as 'Freak' and 'O.G. Freak,' and 20-year-old Tre Byrd, also known as 'Bands' and 'G Bands.' The three were charged with Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations conspiracy. At the time of the indictment, Williams and Byrd had been taken into custody, while Franklin remained at large.
