The City of Hoboken will name the gym at 605 Jackson St. after the late Damon Murray, a 21-year-old walk-on Rutgers football player who was gunned down last month.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“I am blessed to see the outpouring of love and support the community had, and continues to have, for my son,” Carolyn Dejarnette-Murray, Damon’s mother, said in a statement.
“Damon is gone too soon, but I hope the gym renaming will help make sure he will never be forgotten.”
A 2020 graduate of, and star athlete for the football and basketball teams at Hoboken High School, Damon Murray was recently working for the Hoboken Board of Education, specifically with special needs children as a paraprofessional.
He was on his way to becoming a Hoboken firefighter and furthering his career in public service when his life was tragically cut short. Albert Morales, 33, of North Bergen, has been charged with his killing.
“Damon Murray embodied the very essence of resilience and leadership, leaving an indelible mark on our community through his athleticism and unwavering dedication to guiding our youth,” Mayor Ravi Bhalla said in a statement.
“By renaming the gymnasium in his honor, we pay homage to his legacy and pledge to continue the fight against senseless gun violence, ensuring that Damon’s light continues to inspire and guide us all.”
The city will officially unveil new signage naming the gym the “Damon Murray Community Gym” at a celebration this summer to be announced at a later date.
In the wake of Murray’s death, friends and family members have called on the city and police department to do more for underserved communities, with three council members suggesting to bring back a police precinct at the HHA.
God bless this young man and his family. 🙏