Seton Hall Shooting: One Arrest in Jessica Moore Murder, Another Man Sought

EAST ORANGE, N.J. (CBS/WCBS) Investigators didn't have to look far to find the man they say sprayed gunfire at a crowded weekend house party, killing 19-year-old Seton Hall University student Jessica Moore and wounding four other people.

Police arrested Nicholas Welch on Monday night at his home, just a few doors away from the off-campus house where the shooting occurred early Saturday.

CBS affiliate WCBS reports as of Tuesday that a second man, 19-year-old Marcus Bascus, who police say supplied Welch with the weapon, is still being sought.

Investigators described Welch as a coward with a gun. In what prosecutors said was a twisted act of revenge, the 25-year-old East Orange resident allegedly fired a gun into a crowd filled with Seton Hall University students early Saturday morning during a packed, off-campus house party not far from his home.

"Apparently he was upset that he had been thrown out of the party. With that he returned to the party with a gun and began firing in the house," said Robert Laurino, acting Essex County Prosecutor, told WCBS.

Moore, a sophomore at Seton Hall, died of a gunshot wound to the head. Witnesses said she was hit as she heroically jumped in front of a wounded classmate.

Detectives said Welch shot and injured four other party-goers as the students panicked.

"I was thinking in my head, 'I don't' want to die.' I'm saying it out loud. 'I don't want to die. I don't want to die,' because I know where he's at. It's pitch black. Nobody knows where he's at. Nobody knows where it's all coming from. It was just scary. It was real scary," freshman Carissa Maree-Qualls told the station.

Despite the fact detectives said they're still looking for Bascus, Seton Hall students were relieved the accused shooter was in custody, charged with murder, conspiracy, and weapons possession.

"Absolutely there's a sense of relief. Something's being taken care of that should have been taken care of," said freshman Sotiria Simeonidis.

Anyone with information on this case is urged to call the East Orange Police Department's violent crime task force at 973-266-5060 or the anonymous tip-line at 973-266-5041.