Two Men Charged in May’s Mass Shooting

Authorities have charged two men in the May 21 mass shooting in Bergen Hill. The shooting, which took place on the corner of Crescent Avenue and Brinkerhoff Street, across from Lincoln High School, left two men dead and four other people injured.

In a June expose, Jersey City Times reported on complaints made to authorities about drug dealing and criminal activity for a year prior to the shooting.

Members of the United States Marshals Service New York/New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force (Hudson County Team) arrested Cooleone McNeil, age 21, of Jersey City, yesterday afternoon, without incident, at the AMC Jersey Gardens movie theater in Elizabeth.

The Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide Unit has charged McNeil with two counts of Murder, Conspiracy to Commit Murder, four counts of Attempted Murder, two counts of Unlawful Possession of a Weapon (handgun), and Possession of a Weapon (handgun) for Unlawful Purposes. 

A second suspect in the shooting, Omire Rios-Williams – who was already detained pending trial for the May 3, 2021 murder of Emmanuel Garcia – was also charged Thursday night. 

Rios-Williams, age 19, of Jersey City, was charged with two counts of Murder, Conspiracy to Commit Murder, four counts of Attempted Murder, two counts of Unlawful Possession of a Weapon (handgun), and Possession of a Weapon (handgun) for Unlawful Purposes in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4A(1), a crime of the second degree. 

Cooleone McNeil

On Friday, May 21, 2021, shortly before 11:00 p.m., the Jersey City Police Department received multiple reports of gunshots fired in the area of Crescent Avenue and Brinkerhoff Street in Jersey City. Police Officers responded to the area and found a total of six victims of gunshot wounds. Two of the victims suffered fatal injuries. All of the victims were or are Jersey City residents. 

Responding officers to the area found an unresponsive man in a vehicle in the area of Crescent Avenue and Brinkerhoff Street with a gunshot wound to the torso. The man, later identified as Randolph Black Jr., age 25, was transported by Emergency Medical Services to Jersey City Medical Center where he was pronounced dead. 

Officers found a second unresponsive man with multiple gunshot wounds to his torso and extremities. The man, later identified as Jason Crutcher, age 26, was treated at the scene before being transported by EMS to Jersey City Medical Center, where he was was pronounced dead. 

Omire Rios-Williams

A third man, age 26, was found in the area of 55 Crescent Avenue with multiple gunshot wounds to his upper torso. A fourth victim, age 25, was found with multiple gunshot wounds to his lower torso and a lower extremity. They were both treated at the scene before being transported by EMS to JCMC for treatment. 

A fifth man, age 35, suffered a gunshot wound to an upper extremity. He was transported privately to JCMC where he was treated for his injuries. 

A female victim, age 20, was found inside a business located at 110 Monticello Avenue where she was being treated for multiple gunshot wounds. She was transported by EMS to JCMC where she was treated for her injuries. 

Prosecutor Suarez credited the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide Unit, the Jersey City Police Department, and the U.S. Marshals Service New York/New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force (Hudson County Team) for the investigation and arrests.