Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez has released the following information:
On April 16, 2017, at approximately 10:05 p.m., Jersey City Police Officers, while working in plain clothes, observed shots being fired in the vicinity of 379 Ocean Avenue in Jersey City. Jimmy Gregory, age 19, of Jersey City, was fatally shot during the incident. A second victim, a 10-year-old girl from East Orange, was also struck by gunfire while sitting in a nearby vehicle. Several Police Officers in the area immediately pursued the suspects and they were apprehended shortly before 10:10 p.m. Officers also recovered two handguns during the chase.
Corey Pickett, age 21, of Jersey City, and Jonathan Ferrera, age 21, of Jersey City, were arrested by Jersey City Police Officers and charged by the Prosecutor’s Homicide Unit with Murder in violation of N.J.S. 2C:11-3, a first-degree crime; Attempted Murder in violation of N.J.S. 2C: 5-1 and N.J.S. 2C: 11-3, a first-degree crime; Possession of a Firearm for an Unlawful Purpose in violation of N.J.S. 2C:39-4, a second-degree crime; and Unlawful Possession of a Firearm in violation of N.J.S. 2C:39-5, a second-degree crime; Hindering Apprehension in violation of N.J.S. 2C:29-3, a third degree crime; and Resisting Arrest in violation of N.J.S. 2C:29-2, a fourth-degree crime. The first court appearance for both suspects is scheduled for tomorrow afternoon in Criminal Justice Reform Court.
Gregory, who was shot in the upper body, was pronounced dead at the scene at approximately 10:30 p.m. The cause and manner of his death are pending an investigation by the Medical Examiner.
The 10-year-old girl was shot in the torso and received medical treatment at the scene before being transported to Jersey City Medical Center where she remains in stable condition.
The Prosecutor’s Homicide Unit is actively investigating the case with assistance from the Jersey City Police Department. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Office of the Hudson County Prosecutor at 201-915-1345 or to leave an anonymous tip on the Hudson County Prosecutor’s official website at: http://www.hudsoncountyprosecutorsofficenj.org/homicide-tip/ . All information will be kept confidential.
