In the summer of 2015, a violent encounter on a street in Newark, New Jersey, claimed the life of 32-year-old Qua-Shawn Chaney. On the evening of July 16th, Chaney was on Clinton Place when he was fatally shot. The incident prompted an investigation by the Essex County Prosecutor's Office and the Newark Police Department, which would soon uncover a conspiracy allegedly involving multiple individuals.
Within weeks, authorities announced the arrests of three people in connection with
Chaney's death. Jessie McNeil, 22, and two 17-year-old juveniles, all from Newark, were taken into custody. McNeil was charged with murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and two weapons offenses. One of the teenagers faced a litany of charges, including murder, conspiracy, aggravated assault, and weapons possession. The second juvenile was charged with unlawful possession of a weapon and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose.
Further investigation revealed a more personal and troubling motive behind the killing. One of the teens arrested was identified as Nariq Peeks, and the victim, Qua-Shawn Chaney, was reportedly the boyfriend of Peeks's mother. Authorities alleged that Peeks and McNeil conspired to kill Chaney. Following an altercation between Peeks and Chaney, Peeks is accused of pulling the trigger of a gun that McNeil had provided.
The legal process moved forward with indictments for both McNeil and Peeks. They were formally charged with conspiracy to commit murder, murder, unlawful possession of a weapon, and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose. Peeks faced an additional charge of aggravated assault, as a woman who was with him at the time of the shooting was grazed by a bullet.
