In the cold of a Newark winter, on January 28, 2016, the life of 23-year-old Terrance Moore Jr. of East Orange, a Black/African American male, was violently cut short. Moore was in the 300 block of New Street when gunfire erupted, leaving him and another young man, 22-year-old Derrick Valentine of Newark, fatally wounded. The double homicide sent ripples of fear and anger through the community, prompting a thorough investigation by local law enforcement.
The Essex County Prosecutor's
Office took the lead in the investigation, working to piece together the events of that tragic day. Their efforts eventually led them to two suspects: Jhamid Love, 26, and Isaiah Jackson, 22. Both men were charged with two counts of murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and weapons offenses in connection with the deaths of Moore and Valentine. A Superior Court Judge approved the arrest warrants, setting bail for each at $1 million.
At the time the charges were announced, Isaiah Jackson was already in custody at the Union County Jail on unrelated charges. Jhamid Love, however, remained at large, prompting a search by law enforcement. He was later apprehended and taken to the Essex County Jail to await a bail hearing. The charges against both men are accusations, and they are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The arrests were part of a larger crackdown on violent crime in Essex County, which saw authorities charge nine individuals in connection with seven recent homicides.
