Details Emerge of Wild Downtown Shootout Last Year Resulting in Three Arrests
The details are still sketchy, but a picture has now emerged of a wild 2021 shootout that left one man dead in the shadow of the I-78 overpass Downtown.
According to court documents, in the early morning hours of May 14, four men met at the City Crossings Apartments parking lot located at Merseles Court and Bright Street. The purpose of their meeting has not been disclosed.
Whatever the reason for the meeting, a “verbal dispute” led Stebbin Drew, 37, of East Orange to draw his gun. The other three men, in turn, drew their weapons. On one side, stood cousins Stebbin Drew and Rahoo Drew, 42 of Newark, and on the other, Rashawn Harrison, 28, and John Smith, 40, both of Jersey City.
In the hail of bullets, Stebbin Drew was hit in the torso.
Smith ran from the scene as Rahoo Drew and Rashawn Harrison continued exchanging fire.
During a lull in the shooting, Rahoo Drew ran over to Stebbin Drew’s lifeless body and retrieved his gun. Harrison made a run for it and and Rahoo Drew pursued him.
Rahoo Drew came upon an individual identified as “R.B.” who was unarmed and hiding near a car. He shot at R.B. several times but, apparently, missed.
When the shooting was over, Stebbin Drew lay dead in the street.
Rahoo Drew was arrested at his home on Sylvan Avenue on January 27, 2022 by members of the Homicide Unit, the Jersey City Police Department Street Crimes Unit, and the Newark Police Department. He is charged with Attempted Murder, two counts of Unlawful Possession of a Weapon, two counts of Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose, and Aggravated Assault by Pointing a Firearm. He is being held at the Hudson County Correctional Facility through the course of his prosecution.
Rashawn Harrison, 28, of Jersey City, was arrested on February 11 on Danforth Avenue in Jersey City by members of the United States Marshals Service. He is charged with Unlawful Possession of a Weapon. Yesterday, the State’s detention motion was granted by a Superior Court Judge.
John Smith, 40, of Jersey City, surrendered himself to detectives at the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office yesterday. He is charged with Unlawful Possession of a Weapon, and Certain Persons Not to Have Weapons. He was remanded to the Hudson County Correctional Facility pending his first court appearance.
