Two Jersey City members have been charged with three murders, including a pregnant woman, also shooting a rival gang member execution style, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
Markell Brown, also known as “Sayboy,” 32, and Terence Shaw, also known as “Sweet Meat,” 32, both of Jersey City, are each charged with conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering, three counts of murder in aid of racketeering, three counts of discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, and three counts of causing death through use of a firearm, Carpenito said in a statement.
On January 16th, 2017, Brown and Shaw allegedly murdered a rival gang member with whom they had been feuding, as well as the gang member’s pregnant girlfriend and their own associate – who had accompanied them to commit the murders.
Brown and Shaw used a stolen U-Haul truck and two-way walkie-talkie radios during the murders. They used their associate to obtain access to the rival gang member’s apartment.
After entering that residence on Fulton Avenue shortly after 10:00 p.m., Brown and Shaw executed the rival gang member, shooting him in the back of the head, the left arm, and the right shoulder. They also shot the woman in the back of the head and the chest.
As Brown and Shaw left, they shot their associate in the chest in order to eliminate the possibility that he would provide information to law enforcement.
Brown and Shaw each face a potential mandatory life sentences for each of the counts charging murder in aid of racketeering.
For each count of discharging a firearm during a crime of violence, they face a potential mandatory consecutive sentences of 10 years in prison.
Additionally, the count of conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, while counts of causing death through use of a firearm each carry a maximum sentence of life in prison.
Carpenito credited the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, the Jersey City Police Department, and special agents of the FBI with the investigation leading to the charges.
This investigation was conducted as part of the Jersey City Violent Crime Initiative (VCI).
The VCI was formed in 2018 by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey, the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, and the Jersey City Police Department, for the sole purpose of combatting violent crime in and around Jersey City.
