Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez has announced that on Thursday, July 21, 2022, Alterik Ellis, 29, and Travis DeFoe, 32, both of Jersey City, were convicted for their roles in the shooting death of Jade Saunders, 17, in Jersey City on Friday, October 26, 2018.
According to Prosecutor Suarez, Ellis and DeFoe were found guilty of Murder, Conspiracy to Commit Murder, Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose and Theft of Moveable Property.
On Friday, October 26, 2018, at approximately 11:35 p.m., the Jersey City Police Department received a report of shots fired in the area of 76 Brinkerhoff Street.
According to Prosecutor Suarez, responding officers found an unresponsive woman – later identified as Jade Saunders, 17, of Jersey City – with an apparent gunshot wound to the upper body.
She was pronounced dead at the scene. The Regional Medical Examiner’s Office determined the Cause of Death to be a gunshot wound and the Manner of Death to be homicide.
Three other individuals were injured during the shooting.
“The defendants in this case cut short the life of a 17-year-old girl who had her entire future ahead of her,” Assistant Prosecutor Kevin Roe said.
“Today’s verdict helps ensure that justice will be served for Ms. Saunders, her family, friends, and loved ones. We thank the court and the jury for their service throughout the course of this case.”
Sentencing is tentatively scheduled for Friday, October 14, 2022.