On a cold Christmas night in Newark, New Jersey, 13-year-old Zainee Hailey was simply taking out the trash, a chore that tragically placed her in the path of unexpected violence. It was December 25, 2013, and the young girl, a student at Bragaw Avenue Elementary School, became an innocent victim in a shooting that unfolded outside her family's home on Schley Street.
The gunfire that erupted that evening not only claimed Zainee's life but also that of 15-year-old Kasson Morman and left a third teenager, 14-year-old Abdul Frazier, critically wounded. Frazier would later succumb to his injuries.
The senseless act of violence sent shockwaves through the community, marking a grim milestone as the city's 100th homicide of the year. Zainee, remembered as a joyful honor student, cheerleader, and a singer in her church choir, had just returned from a holiday dinner with her grandfather when the shooting occurred. She was accompanied by her 7-year-old brother, who was spared from the gunfire that tragically cut her life short. Initial reports suggested the shooting may have been targeted and possibly connected to a carjacking, though a different and more personal motive would later emerge.
In the days that followed, the community mourned and called for an end to the violence plaguing their streets. Their pleas for justice were answered when authorities arrested a 15-year-old male in connection with the killings. Due to his age, the suspect's name was not publicly released. Investigations revealed that the motive behind the shooting was not random but stemmed from a feeling of being 'disrespected' after one of the male victims had allegedly flirted with the shooter's girlfriend.
The teenage suspect was charged with the murders of Zainee Hailey and Kasson Morman, and the attempted murder of Abdul Frazier. Following Frazier's death, the charges were updated. The case was handled in juvenile court, where the 15-year-old pleaded guilty to the three murders. Under a plea agreement, he faced a sentence of up to 40 years in prison for his actions on that tragic Christmas night.
