In a tragic sequence of events on January 4, 2014, in Trenton, New Jersey, a 22-year-old Black male named Chevin Burgess lost his life in a brutal robbery that ended in his murder. His death was not a simple act of violence, but a calculated crime that involved a shooting and a subsequent attempt to destroy evidence.
The harrowing discovery was made when firefighters responded to a vehicle fire in the 100 block of Hart Avenue. Inside the burning car, they found the body of Burgess.
An investigation by the medical examiner later revealed that Burgess had been shot and killed before the fire was set. The cause of death was determined to be a gunshot wound.
The investigation into the death of Chevin Burgess led to the arrests of two Trenton men, Calier Samad and Joeryan Foreman. Prosecutors laid out a grim narrative, stating that Burgess was shot in the head during a robbery. Following the shooting, his body was placed in a vehicle, driven to Hart Avenue, doused with gasoline, and set ablaze in an attempt to cover up the crime.
Both Samad and Foreman faced serious charges for their roles in the murder. Samad was charged with murder, felony murder, robbery, and weapons offenses, while Foreman faced charges of felony murder, robbery, and weapons offenses. In the ensuing legal proceedings, Joeryan Foreman was offered a plea deal that required him to serve a 25-year prison sentence and cooperate with the prosecution against his co-defendant. Calier Samad was ultimately convicted of felony murder, robbery, aggravated arson, and a weapons offense. For his part in the murder of Chevin Burgess, Samad was sentenced to life in prison.
