Thread: 6 indicted in Newark schoolyard slay case

6 indicted in Newark schoolyard slay case

By SAMANTHA HENRY | Associated Press Writer
September 15, 2008

NEWARK, N.J. - A state grand jury on Monday indicted six men being held for their alleged roles in an execution-style slaying that shocked New Jersey's largest city _ and the nation _ more than a year ago.

The suspects _ Rodolfo Godinez, 25; his 17-year-old brother, Alexander Alfaro; Jose Lachira Carranza, 29; Melvin Jovel, 19; Shahid Baskerville, 16; and Gerardo Gomez, 16 _ were all indicted on murder, attempted murder, robbery and weapons offenses related to the Aug. 4, 2007 killing.

The six men, who have reputed links to the MS-13 street gang, are accused of killing Iofemi Hightower, Terrance Aeriel and Dashon Harvey. The three were college students, and were hanging out behind the Mount Vernon School when they were killed.

Carranza and Baskerville are also charged with sexually assaulting a fourth victim who survived.

The Associated Press usually does not identify victims of rape and is no longer disclosing the woman's name because of the added sexual assault charges.

Essex County Prosecutor Paula Dow said the woman suffered memory lapses from her injuries and is currently in protective custody.

The killings shook Newark and spurred a series of reforms, including adding surveillance cameras in some areas of the city, to penalties for gun owners who fail to report lost or stolen weapons.

Dow said robbery and gang involvement were both elements of the case, but declined to say what police believe to be the primary motive. She also said illegal guns _ such as the one used in this crime _ continue to plauge Newark streets.

She said the indictments took a year because three of the juvenile suspects had been upgraded to face adult charges, and because multiple agencies had been working together to make sure the case was airtight.

"This is an important case for us, and we're doing it slowly, but we're doing it the right way," Dow said.

If convicted, Dow said the suspects face multiple life sentences.

In the aftermath of the killings, the outcry over Carranza _ an illegal immigrant who was out on bail at the time of the murders despite facing separate assault and child rape charges _ led to a directive from the state Attorney General that revamped bail policies for illegal immigrants.

The killings also jump-started a project to put surveillance cameras in high-crime neighborhoods in Newark. About $2 million was raised in the weeks after the killings, and the first cameras were in place by September. More than 100 had been installed by the end of June, and police have credited them with cutting down on violent crime.

Last month, the families of the victims filed a lawsuit against the Newark school district that claimed the Mount Vernon School failed to provide adequate security in a rear courtyard where the victims were killed.
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/ ... 3044.story

Last month, the families of the victims filed a lawsuit against the Newark school district that claimed the Mount Vernon School failed to provide adequate security in a rear courtyard where the victims were killed.

What a horrible crime. I am glad they filed a lawsuit and I hope they get the compensation they derserve. But nothing will ever take away their pain and suffering. I pray for the victims and their families.

Originally Posted by butterbean

Last month, the families of the victims filed a lawsuit against the Newark school district that claimed the Mount Vernon School failed to provide adequate security in a rear courtyard where the victims were killed.

What a horrible crime. I am glad they filed a lawsuit and I hope they get the compensation they derserve. But nothing will ever take away their pain and suffering. I pray for the victims and their families.

Forget the school yard. Sue the city for its sanctuary policies. Sue the state and the feds.

What a horrible crime.

To say the least......I couldn't believe this when I heard the story.....my thoughts and prayers are with the families as well.

Dow said robbery and gang involvement were both elements of the case, but declined to say what police believe to be the primary motive.

Of course they won't say what they believe the "primary motive" to be because every card-carrying liberal knows that only white people can be racist. Duh!!

Six indicted in killings of DSU students
Proceedings took a year to upgrade juveniles to adults
By SAMANTHA HENRY • Associated Press • September 16, 2008

NEWARK, N.J. -- Three men and three teenagers were indicted Monday on murder and other charges for the execution-style slayings of three Delaware State University students last year.

The grand jury charged all six suspects, who have reputed links to the MS-13 street gang, with murder, attempted murder, robbery and weapons offenses related to the Aug. 4, 2007, killings.

Essex County Prosecutor Paula Dow said the indictments took a year because charges against the three teens were upgraded from juvenile to adult court, and because multiple agencies worked together to make sure the case was airtight.

Those indicted were Rodolfo Godinez, 25; his 17-year-old brother, Alexander Alfaro; Jose Lachira Carranza, 29; Melvin Jovel, 19; Shahid Baskerville, 16; and Gerardo Gomez, 16. Baskerville and Gomez were both 15 at the time of the killings.

The six suspects are accused of killing Iofemi Hightower, Terrance Aeriel and Dashon Harvey. The three were college students hanging out behind the Mount Vernon School when they were killed. Harvey and Aeriel were both DSU students and Hightower was an incoming freshman.

The DSU community experienced more than its fair share of tragedy last year. A month after the shootings in Newark, two students were injured in a shooting on campus. One of those students, freshman Shalita Middleton, later died from her injuries.

Dow said robbery and gang involvement were both elements of the Newark case, but declined to say what police believe to be the primary motive. She also said illegal guns -- such as the one used in this crime -- continue to plague Newark streets.

"This is an important case for us, and we're doing it slowly, but we're doing it the right way," Dow said.

If convicted, Dow said the suspects face multiple life sentences.

Carranza and Baskerville also are charged with sexually assaulting a fourth victim who survived. The woman suffered memory lapses from her injuries and is currently in protective custody, Dow said.

The woman's identity had been disclosed before the sexual assault charges were made, but The News Journal is no longer naming her because its policy is to not identify alleged victims in sex assault cases.

The killings shook Newark and spurred a series of reforms including the installation of surveillance cameras in some areas and penalties for gun owners who fail to report lost or stolen weapons.

The outcry over Carranza, an immigrant in the country illegally who was out on bail at the time of the killings despite facing separate assault and child rape charges, led to a directive from the state attorney general that revamped bail policies for those in the country illegally.

The killings also jump-started a project to put surveillance cameras in high-crime neighborhoods in Newark. About $2 million was raised in the weeks after the killings, and the first cameras were in place by September. More than 100 had been installed by the end of June, and police have credited them with cutting down on violent crime.

Last month, the families of the victims filed a lawsuit against the Newark school district that claimed the Mount Vernon School failed to provide adequate security in a rear courtyard where the victims were killed.
http://www.delawareonline.com/apps/pbcs ... /809160350