In the early morning hours of November 21, 2015, a violent encounter outside an IHOP restaurant on Route 440 in Jersey City cut short the life of 26-year-old Tyreek McCord. The male victim was shot multiple times and was transported to the Jersey City Medical Center by his friends, where he was ultimately pronounced dead. Just a month prior to the fatal shooting, McCord had been released from prison.
He had a criminal history that included convictions for aggravated assault, theft, and receiving stolen property. On the morning of his death, he had been eating inside the restaurant with a small group, and there were no apparent signs of trouble before he walked out into the parking lot where the shooting occurred.
The narrative surrounding the shooting is complex. An attorney for a man indicted on weapons charges in connection with the incident claimed that McCord had been attempting to rob his client and a group of men. According to the lawyer, one of the men with his client then shot McCord. This account is reportedly supported by video evidence showing McCord pointing a gun at the men. However, Tyreek McCord's mother, Annie McCord, has publicly expressed her doubts about this version of events, suggesting that her son may have been set up.
In the aftermath of the shooting, Aaron Lofton was indicted on multiple weapons offenses, including unlawful possession of a weapon. Lofton's attorney maintained that his client was not the shooter and that the individual who shot McCord did so to protect Lofton and the others from being robbed. The Hudson County Prosecutor's Office has not publicly named the alleged shooter or provided further details on the ongoing investigation. The weapon used in the fatal shooting was not recovered.
