Double Homicide Acquitted At Trial

On May 21, 2021, at approximately 11:00PM, the Jersey City Police Department received numerous calls for shots fired in the area of Brinkerhoff and Crescent Avenue. Upon their arrival they located six (6) victims who sustained gunshot wounds. Two (2) victims were pronounced deceased by doctors at the Jersey City Medical Center.

On July 21, 2021, a warrant was issued for our client C.M., and he was later arrested on August 5, 2021, and subsequently detained. C.M. was later indicted for (Count 1) Murder, pursuant to 2C:11-3a(1) or 2C:11-3a(2) & 2C:2-6; (Count 2) Murder, pursuant to 2C:11-3a(1) or 2C:11-3a(2) & 2C:2-6; (Count 3) Conspiracy to Commit Murder pursuant to 2C:5-2a(1) & 2C:11-3a(1) or (2); (Count 4) Attempt to Commit Murder pursuant to 2C:5-1a(1) & 2C:11-3a(1) or (2); (Count 5) Attempt to Commit Murder pursuant to 2C:5-1a(1) & 2C:11-3a(1) or (2); (Count 6) Attempt to Commit Murder pursuant to 2C:5-1a(1) & 2C:11-3a(1) or (2); (Count 7) Attempt to Commit Murder pursuant to 2C:5-1a(1) & 2C:11-3a(1) or (2); (Count 8) Accomplice Liability for Aggravated Assault pursuant to 2C:12-1B(1); (Count 9) Accomplice Liability for Aggravated Assault pursuant to 2C:12-1B(1); (Count 10) Accomplice Liability for Aggravated Assault pursuant to 2C:12-1B(1); (Count 11) Accomplice Liability for Aggravated Assault pursuant to 2C:12-1B(1); (Count 12) Unlawful Possession of a Handgun pursuant to 2C:39-5b(1); (Count 13) Unlawful Possession of a Handgun pursuant to 2C:39-5b(1); and (Count 14) Possession of a Handgun for Unlawful Purpose pursuant to 2C:39-4a(1).

The case proceeded to trial that went on for several weeks. The jury heard from witnesses, including a survivor of the shooting, detectives, police officers, forensic experts and reviewed hours of footage that captured the shooting unfold. Throughout the trial, William A. Proetta, Esq. argued that the suspect caught on video was not C.M. and that the State had not met their burden of proof. Ultimately, the jury agreed, and found C.M. not guilty of both murders, all four attempted murders, the aggravated assaults, and handgun charges.