Arrest made in connection to murder of 9-year-old boy in Newark
NEWARK, N.J. — A man has been arrested after a child was shot and killed outside his grandparents' home in Newark.
Jesse Dunbarr, 36, is now facing first-degree murder charges in the death of 9-year-old Yasin Morrison.
Yasin Morrison killed in Newark shooting, 2 adults injured
The child's grandparents say Friday evening, their son was dropping Yasin and his 3-year-old sister off at their house on Osborne Terrace to spend the weekend.
As they were getting out of the car, police say Dunbarr opened fire, striking Yasin and another man and grazing Yasin's father.
"We just heard gunshots ... And then the next thing we saw was Yasin laying on the sidewalk," grandmother Tisha Bolden said.
Yasin was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The other man and Yasin's father are expected to be OK.
Police have not said what led up to the gunfire. Investigators are expected to release more details at a news conference Thursday.
"It will never bring us Yasin back"
The news of an arrest is welcome news for Yasin's family.
"I feel elated that the city rallied around and everybody wouldn't stop until they got somebody," Bolden said.
But it doesn't take away their heartbreak.
"I'm happy that they caught the person, but it will never bring us Yasin back," said Yasin's aunt Lataisha Morrison.
For now, the family is hanging onto memories of their greatest gift, who made a mark in his nine short years.
"If you ever had one of his hugs, you would remember it for the rest of your life," Bolden said.
"I'm going to miss the park. I'm gonna miss you coming to the supermarket with me," Morrison said.
"He taught me unconditional love. He taught me patience. He taught me humility. He taught me so many things that I just, I'm going to miss that every day," Bolden said.
