It's a gun crazy rivalry

Tuesday, April 17, 2007
By MICHAELANGELO CONTE
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

A violent rivalry between youths living in two adjacent public housing complexes in Jersey City is likely the cause of Saturday's murder of an 18-year-old at a birthday party, as well as several other killings over the past year, officials said yesterday.

"We are going to have to do what's necessary to prevent young victims from being shot and killed," Hudson County Prosecutor Edward DeFazio said of the murder of Marcus Roberson, 18, at Montgomery Gardens, where he lived.

"There has been an unacceptable level of violence in that area for too long, but this is something that requires the partnership between the community and law enforcement."

The rivalry has been between youths from Montgomery Gardens and the nearby Booker T. Washington complex, DeFazio said.

DeFazio said Roberson was shot once in the back during the party, in the Montgomery Gardens community room. There were about 50 people, mostly teens, at the party when the shot was fired by someone with "an extreme indifference to the value of human life," the prosecutor said.

"An enhanced law enforcement presence may be required to reduce drug dealing and violent behavior in the housing complexes," DeFazio said. "The vast majority of the residents are hardworking people who want to see this violence and drug dealing come to an end."

Police believe the rivalry was also the cause of the March 14, 2006 death of Kenneth DuPont, 15, who was shot outside Montgomery Gardens. Darious Gadsden, 15, was charged with the murder as an adult, but last month he pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter, DeFazio said.

Also thought to stem from the same rivalry is the death last Aug. 27 of William Griffin Jr., 24, in the Booker T. Washington complex. Griffin apparently confronted Derrick Mack, 25, and both drew guns and fired. A grand jury determined Mack fired in self-defense and last month he pleaded guilty to possession of a weapon by a felon, DeFazio said.

Police also suspect the killing last Oct. 20 of Antwan Hill, 18, across the street from Montgomery Gardens may have stemmed from the rivalry. Police have charged Sammy Mixson, 23, of Crescent Avenue, with murdering Hill.

Mixson was arrested in 2003 on charges of aggravated assault, receiving stolen property and weapons offenses after a single bullet went through the arm of a 9-year-old boy and the leg of an 11-year-old girl in a Booker T. Washington playground, officials said.

Anyone with information on Saturday's murder is asked to call the Prosecutor's Office at (201) 915-1345.

Teen shot dead at Jersey City party

Jersey Journal - April 16

A teenager was shot and killed Saturday morning while attending a party in a community room in a Jersey City public housing complex, authorities said.

Marcus Roberson, 18, of Montgomery Street near Florence Street, was shot Saturday at 12:28 a.m., Hudson County Assistant Prosecutor Guy Gregory said.

The man was shot in the back in the community room at the Montgomery Gardens, where police said he was a resident. Roberson was taken to a local hospital where he was declared dead at 2:20 a.m., Gregory said.

Authorities said yesterday they were still investigating the shooting and could provide no further information regarding any suspects. No arrests have been made, Gregory said.

Anyone with information should call the Hudson County Prosecutor's Homicide Squad (201) 915-1345.

CHARLES HACK