Hassan Q. Cobb-Jones, a 32-year-old male, was fatally shot in Newark, New Jersey, in the early morning hours of Christmas Day, December 25, 2016. The incident occurred around 1:00 a.m. in the 100 block of Parker Street, located in the city's North Ward. Authorities pronounced him dead at the scene at 1:06 a.m. The investigation into the shooting was a collaborative effort between the Newark Police Department and the Essex County Prosecutor's Office.
For a period, the case remained under
active investigation with authorities appealing to the public for any information that could lead to an arrest. The pursuit of justice for Cobb-Jones' death eventually led to the identification and apprehension of a suspect, Habeeb Robinson, a resident of Newark. Robinson, who was 40 years old at the time of his sentencing, became the focus of the investigation into the Christmas morning homicide. He was subsequently charged in connection with the killing of Cobb-Jones.
Following his arrest, Habeeb Robinson faced a trial for his role in Hassan Cobb-Jones' death. The legal proceedings culminated in a conviction on several serious charges, including first-degree aggravated manslaughter, first-degree witness tampering, and second-degree unlawful possession of a handgun. Due to his status as a persistent offender with a history of numerous prior convictions, Robinson received an extended sentence. On July 22, 2024, a Superior Court Judge sentenced him to a total of 68 years in prison. The sentence was structured as 50 years for the homicide and a consecutive 18 years for the witness tampering charge.
