3 killed execution style behind school

[Jahness]

3 killed execution style behind school

2 hours, 15 minutes ago

Three friends were forced to kneel against a wall behind an elementary school and were shot to death at close range, and a fourth was found about 30 feet away with gunshot and knife wounds to her head, police said.

All were from Newark and planned to attend Delaware State University this fall.

Essex County Prosecutor Paula Dow said authorities didn't have any suspects or a motive in the killings late Saturday. None of the victims had any criminal record, she said.

"They were good kids," Dow said.

The four had been listening to music in a parking lot behind Mount Vernon School when they were gradually joined by a group of men, authorities said.

Newark Police Director Garry McCarthy said the four exchanged text messages saying they should leave, but were attacked before they could do so.

Police said the attackers shot one young woman, then forced her three companions down an alley, lined them up against a wall, made them kneel and shot each in the head.

Natasha Aerial, 19, was listed in fair condition at Newark's University Hospital, authorities said. Police identified her companions as her brother, Terrance Aerial, 18, Ofemi Hightower, 20, and Deshawn Harvey, 20.

The Aerials' mother, Renee Tucker, said the last time she saw them was around 10:30 p.m. Saturday, when they told her they were going around the corner to get something to eat.

"They said they were going to come right back to the house," Tucker said.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070806/...5JVn5_0D5H2ocA

Copyright © 2007 The Associated Press.

[JemChi]

IT HAS TO STOP..ASAP!!!

NEWARK, N.J. (Aug. 7) - In a city where gun violence has become an all too common part of daily life, these shootings were enough to chill even the most hardened residents: Four young friends shot execution-style in a schoolyard just days before they were to head to college.

Three were killed after being forced to kneel against a wall and then shot in the head at close range Saturday night, police said. A girl was found slumped near some bleachers 30 feet away, a gunshot wound to the head but still alive.

The four Newark residents were to attend Delaware State University this fall. No arrests had been made by Monday and authorities had not identified suspects.

The shootings ratcheted up anger in New Jersey's largest city, where the murder rate has risen 50 percent since 1998. The high number of killings have prompted billboards in the downtown area that scream, "HELP WANTED: Stop the Killings in Newark Now!"

"Anyone who has children in the city is in panic mode," said Donna Jackson, president of Take Back Our Streets, a community-based organization. "It takes something like this for people to open up their eyes and understand that not every person killed in Newark is a drug dealer."

The killings bring Newark's murder total for the year to 60, and put pressure on Mayor Cory A. Booker, who campaigned last year on a promise of reducing crime.

Jackson said Booker "doesn't deserve another day, another second, while our children are at stake."

Booker said Monday that it was "not a time to play politics and divide our city." A $50,000 reward was being offered for information leading to the arrest of those involved, he said.

A month ago, Booker and Police Director Garry McCarthy announced that crime in the city had fallen by 20 percent in the first six months of 2007 compared to a year ago. Yet despite decreases in the number of rapes, aggravated assaults and robberies, the murders have continued.

Natasha Aeriel, 19, was listed in fair condition at Newark's University Hospital. Police identified her slain companions as her brother, Terrance Aeriel, 18, Iofemi Hightower, 20, and Dashon Harvey, 20.

Authorities believe the shootings were a random robbery committed by several assailants and that some of the victims may have tried to resist their attackers. They were piecing together details of the attack from interviews with Natasha Aeriel.

Hightower and the Aeriels had been friends since elementary school and played in the marching band at West Side High School. Terrance Aeriel, known as T.J., took Hightower to the school prom in 2006, chauffeured by his sister.

At Delaware State they met Harvey, another musician, and struck up a friendship. Friends and family members said the four were not involved in drinking, drugs or gangs. They liked to congregate at the school, which sits in a middle-class neighborhood less than a mile from the campus of Seton Hall University, to hang out and listen to music.

Harvey's father, James, said Monday the parents of the assailants were to blame.

"If you raised your kids better, this would not happen," he said.

Hightower worked two jobs and recently enrolled at the school. One of her jobs was at Brighton Gardens, an assisted living center in nearby West Orange, where her mother also worked.

On the afternoon of the killings, she told her mother she planned to spend the night at Natasha Aeriel's house near the Mount Vernon School.

"The last time I heard her voice was Saturday night," Hightower said between sobs. "She called me from work to let me know Natasha was going to pick her up and she was going to spend the night. She told me she loved me."

The Aerials' mother, Renee Tucker, said the last time she saw them was around 10:30 p.m. Saturday, when they told her they were going around the corner to get something to eat.

"They said they were going to come right back to the house," Tucker said.

Associated Press Writers Janet Frankston Lorin and Jeffrey Gold in Newark, and Daniela Flores in Trenton contributed to this story.
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[5602]

I have a question. Does anyone think that many of these types of murders are the work of paramilitary style police? I don't believe it was a robbery. Robbers are typically very impulsive and would have surprised their victims. This crime was carefully planned leading me to believe these victims were stalked and targeted!!!


The reason I ask about the police is they have databases on all of our children throught schools they attend from kindergarten throught Highschool and beyond. Could it be these young people were murdered because they had gotten into college? Look at the timing of their deaths!


Also, you have this sudden rash of murders and no one seems to be asking why,why now, who and what's the cause of it. More important if these crimes are being committed by people in our own neighborhoods even if they are not arrested we usually know or atleast suspect they have done these crimes yet people are being murdered and most of us seem to have no clue as to whose behind them!

PS: Black people must begin to think and ask questions!

[rebelAfrika]

Originally Posted by 5602

I have a question. Does anyone think that many of these types of murders are the work of paramilitary style police?

No.........

[GoodRain]

Originally Posted by 5602

I have a question. Does anyone think that many of these types of murders are the work of paramilitary style police? I don't believe it was a robbery. Robbers are typically very impulsive and would have surprised their victims. This crime was carefully planned leading me to believe these victims were stalked and targeted!!!


The reason I ask about the police is they have databases on all of our children throught schools they attend from kindergarten throught Highschool and beyond. Could it be these young people were murdered because they had gotten into college? Look at the timing of their deaths!


Also, you have this sudden rash of murders and no one seems to be asking why,why now, who and what's the cause of it. More important if these crimes are being committed by people in our own neighborhoods even if they are not arrested we usually know or atleast suspect they have done these crimes yet people are being murdered and most of us seem to have no clue as to whose behind them!

PS: Black people must begin to think and ask questions!

I agree. It does seem strange. Depending on our reaction there will be more of those. Blacks may have to think along the lines that you have stated.

[5602]

An execution style murder usually takes serious longterm planning and know how. It is not like most of the crimes committed by opportunistic individuals and groups.

[Isis]

I'm shocked this thread has received only five responses! I too, believe this was plotted, since one of the females was an advocate against violence; top it off with the fact that all four were headed to college. This could also have been an attempt to awaken the masses to vote against illegal immigration in upcoming elections (Latino shooters), or to possibly encite a race war between Blacks and Latinos. I'd hate to have to believe the Black-Mexican feuds is now a nation-wide crisis. I'd like to hear more thoughts on this matter. This is serious, and we have NO playtime. Time out for BS; it's time to strategize, organize and revolt.

[BlkSpartacus]

The shooter was Peruvian not Mexican. They say that robbery was the motive but to my belief nothing was taken. There has been alot of robberies and harrasment on immigrants by blacks for a while now... so I can see this as being a retaliation of some sorts. The other suspect is 15yrs old and his name is witheld due to his age and the fact that he's going to a youth detention center full of young black men so they feel that he might be in danger. Theres also at least three other suspects yet to be found that participated in this crime.

[BlkSpartacus]

From what alot of people say around the Ivy Hill community fuck what the news say these were really good young black teens. The reason I say fuck the news is because they also brought up the fact that they had no criminal records like that should matter in a time like this if they did or didnt.

[BlkSpartacus]

The one young sista is still alive and doing well shes being carefully guarded and in stable condition. She helped police describe one of the main suspects and have been very helpful since the incident.

[Jalili]

It's actually hard to make a comment on this for me. I think there is more to the story than we know.

Robbery is not always the motive of murder.

[BlkSpartacus]

Originally Posted by JABOOM

It's actually hard to make a comment on this for me. I think there is more to the story than we know.

Robbery is not always the motive of murder.

Peace bro! Like you stated its not always the motive and Iam inclined to believe that hatred had a part to play in this. Only hatred can explain the degree which this crime was done without thinking twice. I believe that the belief that a black life means nothing was carried on on that night by these cowards.

[rebelAfrika]

I've been the suspect to a crime I didn't commit before, so I'm not so quick to throw the kitchen sink at the Peruvian homie. I need more evidence...or at least to hear the suspect's side of the story.

[Jalili]

Originally Posted by rebelAfrika

I've been the suspect to a crime I didn't commit before, so I'm not so quick to throw the kitchen sink at the Peruvian homie. I need more evidence...or at least to hear the suspect's side of the story.

I agree and have been too. I need more info before I make any judgement. The suspect could be nothing more than a fall guy to keep some one else out of trouble.

[BlkSpartacus]

Originally Posted by rebelAfrika

I've been the suspect to a crime I didn't commit before, so I'm not so quick to throw the kitchen sink at the Peruvian homie. I need more evidence...or at least to hear the suspect's side of the story.

For one the sista that survived pointed him out as one of the men due to a fingerprint dna left of a beer bootle at the scene. Then this "Homie" molested a young girl since she was 5 and threatened to kill her family. For some reason he manuevered out of that and still ended up out on the streets. So yeah me being a blackman in amerikkka I fully understand how the system is and works... so its only right he says his piece but right now its not looking good.