In the early morning hours of July 22, 2015, a tragic event unfolded on South 9th Street in Newark, New Jersey. Hassan Scott, a 37-year-old male, was beginning his day, preparing to take his three young children, aged 2, 4, and 9, to daycare. As they were leaving their home and getting into their car around 7:45 a.m., a gunman approached them.
The assailant reportedly instructed Scott to take his children back inside the house. When Scott refused to comply with this demand, the situation escalated dramatically. The gunman opened fire, shooting Scott multiple times in the presence of his children. The violent encounter shattered the morning calm of the neighborhood, which was situated next to a church and an elementary school. Emergency services were called, and Scott was rushed to a local hospital, but his injuries proved fatal, and he was pronounced dead.
Fortunately, his three children were not physically harmed during the incident.
The investigation into the senseless killing of Hassan Scott continued for months. In October 2015, the Essex County Prosecutor's Office announced a significant development in the case. Two men were charged in connection with Scott's death. Zahir S. Stevenson, 21, of Newark, and Lance C. Herbert, 24, of Jersey City, were charged with murder, felony murder, robbery, and weapons offenses.
At the time of the announcement, Lance C. Herbert was already in custody and incarcerated at the Essex County Correctional Facility. However, Zahir S. Stevenson remained at large. Authorities set bail for Herbert at $1 million, while Stevenson's bail was set at $300,000. The charges brought a measure of progress in the quest for justice for Hassan Scott and his family, though the motive for the shooting was not immediately made public.
