Life and Death in Newark
By Keith Boykin, in politics
Monday, August 20 2007, 2:04PM
There's something about the recent murders of three college students in Newark, New Jersey that has people all over the country scratching their heads.
The crime itself seemed so senseless. On August 4, four young adults were hanging out in a school playground when a group of males came up to them, lined them up against a wall and shot them execution-style. Three of the young people were killed on the spot, while the fourth remains hospitalized.
Over the weekend, police finally arrested the last of six suspects allegedly involved in the gruesome triple murder that has outraged the Newark community and much of the nation. But questions still linger. These were good kids, getting an education and not bothering anyone. Why would anyone want to kill them? The police said it was not gang-related or drug-related. Robbery was supposed to be the motive. But why rob a group of young kids who didn't have much of value on them? And then why kill them? When some of the suspects were identified as Hispanic immigrants, some speculated that it might have been a hate crime against the four black kids. But police seemed to rule out that option too. So what was this murder all about?
Crime In Newark
It's been four years since I spent any considerable amount of time in Newark. In the summer of 2003, I went to Newark to meet with the family of Sakia Gunn, a 15-year-old high school student who had been murdered on one of the main streets of the New Jersey community. I interviewed Sakia's mother and felt the pain she was going through after losing her daughter.
Even with its new reform-minded mayor Cory Booker, Newark is still a city plagued by crime. The number of murders last year (105) was the highest in more than a decade, and this year seems to be on track to meet that pace. At least 60 homicides have been reported in the city this year, compared to 63 at this time last year. But the statistics provide faint consolation to the families and friends of the murder victims. Nothing can ever bring back their loved ones.
It's easy for the media to dismiss the death of black youth in a culture where black-on-black violence is disturbingly high. But the triple murder in Newark this month was different. The victims were, by all accounts, good kids who were not involved in drugs or crime. And the suspects in this case were not black.
The Victims
Who were the victims? The more you know about them, the more tragic the crime. These were all kids with great promise. And not that it makes their lives any more or less valuable than any others, but it does make the crime that much more unusual. There were four of them.
Terrance Aeriel
Eighteen-year-old Terrance Aeriel missed his spring semester at Delaware State University but had re-enrolled for the fall. A musician, Aeriel played the baritone saxophone and participated in his college's band camp last summer. Aeriel was also known as a gifted orator, who had preached at Higher Dimensions Ministry in Bloomfield. (A video of Aeriel preaching is available online at this link.)
Dashon Harvey
Dashon Harvey, 20, was also a junior at Delaware State University. He was a psychology major who had worked in the admissions office on campus. On his myspace page, he described himself as a "sometime runway model" and he is seen sitting in a photo studio holding up a fashion magazine. Harvey also seemed to proud of being elected "Mr. Junior" in Delaware State's homecoming court. He even recorded a video for his campaign on YouTube.
Iofemi Hightower
At 20 years old, Iofemi Hightower was the oldest in the group that was shot. She had attended Essex Community College, but was in the process of enrolling at Delaware State University for the fall. She had close ties to the Aeriels since elementary school and even attended the prom with Terrance Aeriel. Her myspace page featured a "Before and After" photo comparison of herself with Aeriel in 2006 and 2007. In the before picture, the couple are dressed up in formal wear with matching blue and white colors. In the after picture, Hightower sports a baseball cap and a sweatshirt.
Natasha Aeriel
Natasha Aeriel was the only survivor of the shooting. A 19 year-old junior at Delaware State University, she is a biology major who plays the alto saxophone in the school's marching band. Natasha Aeriel has also helped the police to identify and arrest the suspects involved in the case.
The Suspects
A sixth and final suspect in the shootings was arrested Sunday morning. He was identified as 18-year-old Melvin Jovel, who was apprehended at the home of a relative in Elizabeth, New Jersey at 3 in the morning.
"The final suspect in this heinous crime has been arrested and the city is grateful," said Mayor Booker. "Now the process of healing must take center stage and the prosecution of the case begins." This is certainly the time for healing, but it won't come easily as long as so many questions remain unanswered.
One of the first questions is how did one of the suspects, an undocumented immigrant, get out of jail in the first place when he had already been indicted on two separate felonies. Jose Carranza has been identified as an illegal immigrant from Peru who could have been detained by federal immigration authorities after he was arrested three separate times on criminal charges. Carranza was first arrested in October 2006, in West Orange, New Jersey, on aggravated assault charges related to a bar fight, and again twice this year on charges that he raped a child in his care. After the first arrest in October, he was freed on $20,000 bail.
I am a strong supporter of immigration, but it makes no sense that someone who is in the country illegally would be charged with a serious crime and then allowed to go free on bail. I don't believe in the draconian policy that would send all immigrants back to their home country for minor offenses, but when a guy's been charged with 3 crimes in a year, that should send up some kind of red flags to someone.
After Carranza's second arrest, bail was set at $150,000 and he was freed after posting it with a bondsman. After his third arrest in May, bail was set at $300,000 but then lowered to $150,000, which Carranza had already posted. It seems that several opportunities were missed to keep this guy in jail before he would strike again.
Another question to answer is what was the real motive that led to the murder. All of the suspects identified appear to be Hispanic or Hispanic immigrants in a city mostly known for its black population. Melvin Jovel, the final suspect arrested, appears to be Hispanic. The same for 24-year-old Nicaraguan immigrant Rodolfo Godinez and 16-year-old Alexander Alfaro, his half-brother. Of the three other suspects, 28-year-old Jose Carranza, an illegal immigrant from Peru, is also Hispanic. It's not clear if the other two juveniles in custody are Hispanic as well.
But something doesn't sound right here. There was no evidence of a family connection between Jovel and the other suspects, and it's not clear what would lead him to participate in the crime. At the end of the day, there are still far more questions than answers.
What Happens Next?
Whenever a high profile crime like this takes place, we start to wonder what we could have done to prevent it, and just as importantly, how we can prevent it from happening again. In this case, most of the attention has focused on illegal immigration, gun control and better policing in our inner cities. But until we know more about what happened, it will be hard to make rash judgments about future policy.
Given the ongoing debate about illegal immigration in America, It's no wonder that white, right-wing conservatives who usually don't give a hoot about the murders of young black kids suddenly are up in arms about this murder. Presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani wasted no time in releasing a radio advertisement after the killings. "It frustrates me that if someone comes here illegally, if they commit a crime, we don’t throw them out of the country." That seems to make some sense, but it sounds suspicious when it comes from a guy who as mayor of New York seemed not to care much about black youth.
"Far more Americans are being killed by violent, evil people here in America than in our official military ‘combat zones’ overseas," wrote former House Speaker Newt Gingrich in the right-wing National Review recently. And Representative Tom Tancredo, a conservative Republican from Colorado, even brought his presidential campaign in town for a news conference “to denounce the sanctuary city policy of Newark."
None of that stereotypical macho posturing and GOP "tough on crime" rhetoric is helpful here. Gun violence in Newark has increased dramatically in recent years and murders have risen more than 50 percent since 2002. This is a problem that should concern all of us, and not just when an illegal immigrant is a suspect. If Giuliani, Gingrich and Tancredo want to do something about crime in Newark, then maybe they should help with jobs programs, fixing the schools, dealing with poverty, responding to drug abuse, implementing gun control and providing funding for the city's cops and teachers and others who are on the front lines of preventing crime.
"Some of the loudest arguments have been over whether local law enforcement officials should check the immigration status of people they arrest and then report those who are here illegally to the federal authorities," the New York Times reported. Mayor Booker said that he was frustrated that Jose Carranza had been freed but has opposed efforts to involve city police in immigration matters, a move he said would harm police relationships with “the most marginalized and vulnerable people within our community."
That's a good argument for why the police should leave the I.N.S. work to the I.N.S., but it doesn't explain why the police can't at least tell the immigration officials that an undocumented immigrant is in their custody. Still, if Carranza turns out to be the only one of the suspects in the country illegally, then his detention might not have stopped the crime from happening anyway.
The real issue here is bigger than illegal immigration. The real issue is about the safety and security of our inner cities and the places that politicians don't care about until there's a media crisis. Long after the cameras are gone and the campaigns are over, the people in Newark will still be living in Newark. They pay taxes just like everyone else, and they deserve as much from their government as the people who live in the wealthy white suburbs.
Comments conceal
Doug Cooper-Spencer
August 20 2007, 2:35PM
Keith, I have to admit I was at first surprised when I saw the identities of the suspects, then it turned to a question of it being a hate crime. But right now what is most relevant is the degree of violence that happens in so many cities across the U.S.
You are so right in addressing the need to work on the core issues that have been shown to give birth to such environments. Unfortunately, those politicians you mentioned are doing what it appears repubs do best: posture, because posturing keeps them from having to act. That is why we must elect officials who have meaningful social agendas.
Blue
August 20 2007, 2:38PM
Sadly, some senseless crime is just that ... senseless. I don't know that there's any reason at all for this. Some people are just hateful like that, which is scary. All I could do was shake my head when I saw this.
saint james
August 20 2007, 2:46PM
It is tragic. Three lives snuffed out like a cheap match. The other forever changed by the will of people who have no legal right to even be on this soil. There MUST be a change in policy. If you are arrested for a felony, charged and convicted. You are banned from entering this country again.
Ron Lee
August 20 2007, 3:02PM
Well, Kieth you better beleive if four white kids were killed in the city or the suburbs we'd still be talking about this case. And the trip part about this case is with six suspects we should know the motive. Initailly I thought it was a gay/hate crime because of the unisex look of the kids, and to here the police say it's not a hate crime is rediculous. It's also a common practice for police to detain and notify INS anytime an illegal is identified by them. My sympathies to the families and I hope a swift recovery to the survivor and justice in this case. PEACE OUT.
James Synegal
August 20 2007, 3:34PM
This is utterly ridiculous, and I have to say I am totally outraged. These offenders must be caught. It does not matter their motives', this was a senseless crime and justice must be served. Iam glad that Mr. Boykin has the balls to address these issues. We need more strong men like hime to fight this senseless nonsense. Most people are afraid to go "against the grain", anytime someone stands up for what it right, they are as most people say they are "going against the grain". Well somebody need to. And they will be caught! I have faith in a higher power that they will. God don't like ugly!!!
Percy
August 20 2007, 3:54PM
Seems like the life of any black person, good kids or bad ones means nothing. No one in this country seems to care about the good kids, and want to throw the bad ones under the jails. And, its not just the good kids who are been killed off, in my town, Oakland, its a all out slaughter of young black people day in and day out, well, black people in general from the statistics and all we here is lip service. Baltimore, Philadelphia, New Orleans any city with a large black population seems to be under the gun, literally. The genocide is going full steam ahead, and sadly with no end in site and no one with an answer as to why just a seeming oh well, they were black and its just a shame, but no great loss.
cmoney
August 20 2007, 4:44PM
Guiliani is the last person to address illegal immigration problems since he actively encouraged it while mayor if New York, practically declaring NYC a sanctuary for illigal immigrants. His statements reflect the utter hypocrisy of his entire campaign. Especially his alleged concern for the well being of young Black people. He literally launched a reign of terror upon young Black men in New York and he thinks anyone in Newark believes her gives a damn about Black people? As for the illegals and criminal activity, the police should enter any information they haveon illegals into a database and hold these people for I.C.E. and deportation. Heck, police know if you have an outstanding warrant within 10 minutes of stopping you for speeding, so why can't they determine immmigration status and hold immigration offenders the same way they would arrest anyone stopped with an outstanding warrant? A lot of illegals could be rounded up this way. But who would serve tea at the Guiliani household?
ChicagoAngel
August 20 2007, 4:45PM
OMG that is such a shame. Such a shame! All so young. Why Haven't I heard about this in Chicago?
Im only 24 and this makes me angry! I took off form colege because I got tired of school and these 4 young people who are trying to make better lifes are just taken away!
Damnit
Percy
August 20 2007, 5:33PM
One thing good old boy Rudy can be said to be honest on and that is his total disdain for black people, but since I've heard that most NY'er of Italian descent feel the same way, he's sure to capitalize on that in the South where he will win over the GOP as if he were native son. I'm still shocked that immigrants have replaced blacks and gays as the group so easily vilified, well for a new York minute at least, so to read that he is shocked is insult to the families that he is trying to capitalize on their pain, just like the 9/11 victims where he did the same thing.
And, Chicago Angel, it has been all over the news, MSNBC did some good coverage of it when it happened.
Page
August 20 2007, 6:13PM
I've been trying to get a work visa to live and work in France, and it's next to impossible. It makes me angry that immigrants can commit crimes, avoid taxes, burden the healthcare system, and lower economic wages. And to top it off, demand amnesty and citzenship. If I tried to pull that mess over in France.....let's just say my butt would be on the first plane back to the states with a deportation stamp in my passport.
This story makes me sick!
Troy
August 20 2007, 7:14PM
When does the street become too cluttered with memorials for the dead; killed and remembered AFTER they gave their lives to a world only concerned with MySpace & McDonalds. I'm sick of T-shirts of people killed for no reason worn by the people who only gave a damn about them AFTER they were dead and gone.
Sick and tired of the packaged mayor with the fly suit and the correct fly words looking for healing and then ducking back into his suburban condo on the otherside of town. When is ENough ENough.
And yet I wouldn't wish Newark on anybody and EVERYBODY there and elsewhere knows why. No Keith they weren't scratching their heads -they were secretly saying thank god it's not me and I don't live THERE, when they already do. ENOUGH.
DDC
August 20 2007, 7:28PM
This has been covered okay in the media. I'm not addicted to the news & don't live on the East Coast and I heard about it when it first happened and know all the updates. Maybe some of you should start looking at CNN and MSNBC and not Access Hollywood for what's going on in the world. I agree about Giulliani, he is such a joke.
Nyah Molineaux
August 20 2007, 8:26PM
I agree with Percy that Guiliani is the wrong person to speak about violence against the black community.
But what I am most concerned with is the media placing blacks against latinos and vice versa. The media is always reporting that there were four Hispanic illegal immigrants. Would it have made a difference if the criminals were four black men, or four white men?
I live in Newark and the city is going through some gentrification. However, the long time residents should not excluded from the process. Instead of spending all their time building new sports centers, there should be building of schools and community health centers. In fact one thing Newark need is a NEW grocery store (I dont know about you, but I am tired of going to Manhattan for fresh food). But I guess this type of thinking requires one to care about people more than profit.
brucito
August 20 2007, 8:32PM
Like them or not those of you who do not speak spanish had better get with it because they are now in control of the unskilled labor jobs in North America. I work with dominicans who were highly pissed at the white boss who not only hired me. He explained also to not pay any attention to the looks they gave me when they discovered that I was a black american and not dominican,cuban nor puerto rican. There have been two job related incidents so far where bodily injury could have resulted because of the language barrier. I only know H.S. Spanish. I had thought about going back home to the south but they are taking over there as well. So far I don't see any of the gang signs of MS-13 but I know they will soon be the decorations the bodega security screens in the front of the stores.
jazzi
August 20 2007, 8:47PM
I live in Newark & it brought tears to my eyes when I read about what happened to these kids. They had so much going for themselves! It just doesn't make sense except to say that even though they were good kids minding their own business, they were in the wrong place at the wrong time. Tragic.
Mitch
August 20 2007, 10:01PM
Bush has never addressed the violence and genocide in our neighborhoods. That is his job you know. Republicans are incompetent! Questions related to this crime must be addressed to everybody seeking elected office. Our neighborhoods are not safe to walk down the street. Reagan and Bush people/ NRA dumped cheap guns all over the place. Also, Bill Cosby is trying to articulate this type of disgust when he sees the "hate" and violence in our communities. Being poor is no excuse. You don't get any richer or poorer than the man and woman getting off of the "enslavement" ship! Black folks have no excuse for not loving black people!
Frankly, I don't think many of us care about the violence in our communities. It takes forward thinking people, especially blacks, to get this country in shape. I'd like this sight to address this issue every day: Black community empowerment and improvement.
Andrew
August 20 2007, 11:22PM
Its just a shame, and I would make sure that I would never vote for the mayor of Newark who can't seem to see that if you are here illegally, you have broke the law, sorry, there are billions of poor people trying to get here, and most try to do it legally.
As for having to speak or learn Spanish, sorry, no need and no desire as I don't live in a Spanish speaking country. I live in Phoenix and illegal, and it has one of the largest Spanish speaking populations around, and, yet I seldom encounter anyone who does not speak English in this city. I had a guy do my trees,Mexican, and even with his heavy accent, he spoke enough to understand what I wanted. Maybe that's where some of this pressure should be, helping them speak English and assimilate instead of catering to them. But, thats all part of the plan to keep a low paid workforce.
And, not one of the GOP cares about all this crime and violence excpet to get votes Rudy too.
Sorry, kind of off topic, but, my prayers and thoughts are with the familes.
chris-leo
August 21 2007, 5:18AM
the real puzzle comes in the case of jose carranza.
he'd been arrested for allegedly molesting a very small child, then was released on bail (FOR A CHILD RAPE CHARGE??) and he was able to raise the money, made all the more easy by the judge who lowered the price, and was set free.
THEN he was arrested AGAIN, within months, on molesting that very same child. and guess what? he went before THE SAME JUDGE!!!! when asked for his social security number, he told the judge, thru his lawyer, that HE DIDN'T HAVE ONE!!!!! DING. DING. DING. i mean, dude sat there on his SECOND molestation charge (for the same child), and basically told the judge that he was illegal.
no red flags. he was set free, after he posted bail.
THEN THE MURDER WAS COMMITTED. if he is convicted, the judge has A TON of explaining to do.
this isn't a wake-up call for a crackdown on illegal immigrants. it's a call to string that judge up by his ass.
Miss Thang
August 21 2007, 8:31AM
This could be a hate crime. You've got a lot of hispanics who HATE blacks. You must understand the history of slavery and racial discrimination that is pervasive all throughout South America.
These illegal immigrants come to the US pick up on the racism here and further perpetuate it. Cubans & Mexicans are extremely racist towards blacks. They're almost worse than Koreans. So, I don't think they should be soo quick to dismiss the hate crime issue. Blacks need to understand that you've got other minorities that don't like us as well.
Mikey-He Likes It
August 21 2007, 9:23AM
I agree Chris Leo. That judge needs to be taken off the bench permanently. The fact that he's illegal and has committed 3 separate offenses and now murder and is still here is mind boggeling!! If the justice system was working or fair this man would've been deported or in jail and these 4 precious young people may still be alive. I mean you can come here illegally, work, commit multiple offenses, own a gun, and murder someone?? I tell you there's no place like America. I'd like to see a black man get away with that in Mexico!!!
Gordon
August 21 2007, 11:23AM
Where in the hell did this man get all the dam bail money from? Thats suspect to me. And where in the hell was those crooks Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton? The conservatives are speaking out, but where are the "so called" leaders of the black community?
As an African American male, I am aware of the ills in our commuinity. And I am convinced that politicians and the government cannot fix the problems in the black community. We have to change them ourselves. Changes in our community will only happen with grass roots efforts, by honest hard working people that refuse to see stuff like this happen again. If we can spend 300 Billion dollars a year with nothing to show for it, we can surely change our own communities.
And its said to make this prediction, but I really feel like a Republican will be the next president of the United States, and Rudy Giullioni just might be that person....Brace yourselves people!
bobby
August 21 2007, 12:38PM
a hate crime by any other name is still a hate crime. the suspects need to tarred and feathered and sent back to hispaniola with concrete blocks tied to their ankles.
jazzi
August 21 2007, 8:03PM
I too would like to know how someone can be in this country illegally, commit violent crimes, be allowed to make bail, & not be deported. How did this guy slip through the cracks? Did someone look the other way instead of doing what should have been done, which was deport Carranza's ass? Mayor Corey Booker & the Essex County Prosecutor should push the issue on this one.
Mel Smith
August 21 2007, 8:33PM
Thank you Miss Thing!!!!! A lot of Hispanics HATE Blacks! Black people kill me trying to downplay this. You all honestly think Hispanics want to be identified with you????
LaFontaye
August 22 2007, 1:33AM
At the end of the day, no race of people is looked down upon and thought of as utterly expendable more so than black folk.....And guess what "African Americans"? - that includes us too....imagine that! How many black dead bodies the whole world over will it take before that is perfectly understood by all.
This WAS a hate crime. WAKE UP!!
Ron Lee
August 23 2007, 10:57PM
Mitch, I totally agree with you that we should deal with the Black situation this minute,today,tomorrow,next week,next month. We need to organize black men of all back grounds we can pool our money there's no limit to what we can do those so called leaders must come together. Also we help liberate South America most of us have had a jim crow education and are not aware of that fact. B lacks were the majority in Mexico in the 1500 & 1600s they helped to free them from Spain this is before whites in America were free from the british.
Aaron
August 25 2007, 2:20AM
Yes it is peculiar that an illegal immigrant was let go after RAPING a child and that he could post bail for at least $15000. Some things are obviously hugely corrupt and this is one of them. Then to KILL 4 Black KIDS in an MAJORITY BLACK neigborhood strikes me as highly conspiratorial. If this story dies out it will be happening again and again with no real noise until major black and hispanic wars are as visible as they are in L.A.
These deaths are a serious wake up call on what our government is capable of and mind you I say government because CRIMINAL ALIENS are NOT RELEASED. What COP, DISTRICT ATTORNEY or JUDGE in their RIGHT MIND releases an ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT CHILD RAPIST?!?!?!?!! Someone higher than these people hand picked these guys and will protect them.
This is one story to store in your memory and connect to future stories coming shortly. Philadelphia, North Carolina, DC and Maryland its coming.
CHRIS
August 25 2007, 4:45PM
ALOT OF HISPANICS HATE BLACK PEOPLE.LOOK AT SPANISH TELEVISION.NO BLACK REPRESENTATION AT ALL.EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE LIKE 100 MILLION PEOPLE OF AFRICAN ANCESTRY IN LATIN AMERICA.THATS MORE BLACKS THAN AMERICA HAS.MANY OF THE IMMIGRANTS BRING THERE NEGATIVE FEELINGS OF BLACKS TO AMERICA.MANY OF THE MS-13 GANG MEMBERS GET INIATED INTO THE GANG BY EXECUTING BLACK PEOPLE THEY SEE ON THE STREET.WE AS BLACK PEOPLE SEE LATINOS AS OUR BRETHREN.BUT WE NEED TO BE CONSCOIUS OF HOW THE SEE US.
M
August 25 2007, 9:33PM
It is a sad truth about the racism of very many hispanics towards blacks. And there's no excuse for the child rape thing.
What I want to know is where did that illegal guy get $320,000 (20+150+150) to post bail? Was this real money or IOU? I'm legal and working and can't make enough - fast enough - to pay rent AND pay off $10K in college loans at the same time!!
The only thing I can think of is that this guy has/had serious connections.
Ro
August 29 2007, 2:39PM
I think it's a conspiracy. You know how you hear stories about some crazy corrupt govt offical trying to keep immagration laws strict. I'm thinking these immigrants may have been roped with the hopes or bringing more of there family over from diffrent countries. I feel like somebody told them to do this and who the hell can keep posting bail for a poor immigrant? a poor immigrants family member? PLEASE!! I just think something aint right a gang of immigrants shoots young BLACK adults at a school yard? I dont know
alicia banks
August 29 2007, 4:03PM
this is so tragic and confusing
why???
what was the motive etc???
has any reason ever been given by those arrested?
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