By: Najla Alexander
Authorities in Atlantic County reported that on Wednesday, August 31, Oshshakkur Derrick, 27, of Somers Point, was sentenced by the Honorable Donna M. Taylor, J.S.C., to an aggregate of 54 years in New Jersey State Prison.
According to officials, a jury convicted him in June for first-degree felony murder, first-degree armed robbery, second-degree conspiracy to commit robbery, first-degree kidnapping, second-degree conspiracy to commit kidnapping, second-degree aggravated assault, and second-degree possession of a firearm for an unlawful purpose.
Derrick was sentenced to 45 years on the murder count and nine consecutive years for the aggravated assault count.
Both counts require that Derrick serve 85% of the sentences before being eligible for parole, officials say, all other counts were run concurrently.
Authorities say the conviction and sentence stem from a November 22, 2020, home invasion on the 100 block of N. Pennsylvania Avenue in Atlantic City.
The jury found that Derrick and another unidentified male broke into the house in an attempt to burglarize it but unexpectedly found the two victims inside the bedroom, officials stated.
Officials said one of the victims, a male with the initials J.O., was shot in the chest and ultimately died from his injury.
The other victim, a female with the initials H.A., woke up to a firearm being pointed in her face, officials say.
During the home invasion, H.A. was tied up and struck with the firearm.
Authorities say the males threatened to shoot her if she didn’t tell them where the money was located.
She was then struck in the head and placed in the bedroom closet.
Once the men left the residence, H.A. was able to get free and call 911, according to officials.