5 arrested at street memorial
Monday, April 07, 2008
By CRAIG GARRETSON
ASSISTANT MANAGING EDITOR
Five people were arrested Friday night at a street memorial for a Jersey City man who was shot to death last week, police reports said.
Plainclothes cops were patrolling Clinton Avenue between West Side Avenue and Kennedy Boulevard on Friday around 5:30 p.m. when they saw a large group of people gathered around the impromptu shrine to Darian "B.J." White, who had been shot and killed there two nights before.
A Clinton Avenue resident called The Jersey Journal on Friday night to say trouble began when police started harassing people at the shrine. However, police said they had to disperse the 15 to 25 people there because they were blocking the sidewalk and the street.
But cops said even before they identified themselves as police officers, Julio Reyes, 23, of Lexington Avenue, cursed at a plainclothes cop, identifying him by name, and then said "You'll get yours," and continued to curse and threaten them. They told Reyes he was under arrest, but he "took a fighting stance" and pushed and punched the two cops, reports said.
While attempting to subdue Reyes, the officers said Justin B. Fields, 24, of Mallory Avenue, and Darnell Reeves, 24, of Clinton Avenue began inciting the crowd to attack them. When back-up units arrived, Reeves allegedly knocked away one officer's baton and punched another in the face.
Police also arrested Keith Reeves, 20, also of Clinton Avenue, and Billajia Sweeney, 18, of Ocean Avenue.
Darnell Reeves was taken to the Jersey City Medical Center for treatment of unspecified injuries, and one police officer was treated there for arm and back injuries. Their conditions and charges against them weren't available last night.
White was shot to death Wednesday night, hours after being released from the Hudson County jail on an assault charge.

Friends recall the laugh of slain man

Saturday, April 05, 2008
By PAUL KOEPP
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

Darian "B.J." White was released from the Hudson County Jail on Wednesday and took his 6-year-old brother to school the next morning.

Later that day, shortly before midnight, he was shot several times in the chest and died on the Clinton Avenue block where he grew up.

So far there are no suspects and robbery does not appear be the motive, said Hudson County Prosecutor Edward DeFazio.

Numerous shell casings from the semi-automatic pistol used to kill White were found at the scene, but the gun has not been recovered, he said. Family and friends described White as a jokester with a unique and infectious laugh.

Childhood friend Justin Fields recalled White's "outrageous" sense of humor as he lit a candle at a makeshift shrine on Clinton Avenue yesterday.

"I was just with him yesterday (Thursday), playing and joking around," Fields said. "You had to like him. There was no reason not to like him."

A neighbor said that whenever her son was hungry, White would buy him something to eat. "Just his laugh alone would make you laugh," she said. "He didn't deserve this."

White's father, Lorenzo, speaking at the Madison Avenue home where the family moved 10 years ago, said his son's death may have been prevented by a greater police presence on their old block, which he said has become increasingly riddled with gangs, drugs and violence.

"I can't do anything now," Lorenzo White said. "My son is gone and I can't get him back."

White had been released from jail after serving five months for assault. DeFazio said he had an extensive rap sheet.

Anyone with information about the killing should contact the Prosecutor's Office Homicide Squad at (201) 915-1345.

PAUL KOEPP can be reached at 201-217-2400.