Michael Gibbs, a 32-year-old man, lost his life in a shooting that unfolded on a street in Elizabeth, New Jersey. On the evening of September 15, 2014, shortly before 6 p.m., gunfire erupted in the vicinity of Bond and Jackson streets. When police arrived at the scene, they discovered both Gibbs, a resident of Beverly, N.J., and another man from Elizabeth suffering from gunshot wounds.
Both victims were rushed to local hospitals for treatment, but Gibbs ultimately succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead. The second victim was treated at a Newark hospital and recovered from his injuries.
The investigation into the shooting led authorities to identify 21-year-old Jihaad Holmes of Elizabeth as the primary suspect. Several months after the incident, in January 2015, Holmes turned himself in to the authorities. He was subsequently charged with murder in connection with the death of Michael Gibbs and attempted murder for the wounding of the second individual. Following his surrender, Holmes was held on a bail of $1.5 million.
The legal proceedings against Jihaad Holmes for the murder of Michael Gibbs, who was also known by the nickname 'Nox B,' were complex and drawn out. After facing two separate trials, the juries in both instances were unable to reach a unanimous verdict, resulting in hung juries. Consequently, after spending three years in jail awaiting and during the trials, the man charged in connection with Gibbs' death was released from custody. Sometime after his release, in September 2020, Jihaad Holmes was arrested again along with several other individuals. This time, the charges were related to a series of burglaries, organized street crime, and illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition.
