Darel Evans, a 33-year-old Black or African American man, was fatally shot on a Monday night in December 2015 in Newark, New Jersey. Known to many as 'Creep,' Evans had a complex life story that unfolded on the streets of Newark and was later broadcast to a national audience. He had been a member of the Crips, but chose to leave that life behind and work to steer young people away from the path he once followed.
His transformation from gang member to anti-violence activist was a central theme in the Peabody award-winning Sundance Channel documentary series, 'Brick City,' which brought him a measure of fame.
Born in Newark, Evans' early life was marked by involvement in criminal activities, leading to time in a juvenile detention center. It was during this period that his connections with the Crips deepened. Despite his past, Evans worked to turn his life around, taking on a role at Integrity House, a therapeutic community in Newark, where he served as a weekend coordinator for at-risk young men. His story also included a personal relationship that defied gang rivalries, as he was with a woman who had ties to the rival Bloods gang. This aspect of his life was further explored in a follow-up documentary series called 'Jersey Strong.'
On the night of December 7, 2015, Darel Evans was shot and pronounced dead at the scene. The Essex County Prosecutor's Office opened an investigation into his death, though a motive for the shooting was not immediately clear. In the immediate aftermath of his killing, authorities did not release details about any potential suspects or persons of interest. Online sources and news reports in the years following his death do not contain information about any arrests being made or suspects being publicly identified in connection with his murder. The case remains a stark reminder of the street violence that Evans had been working to combat.
