Naszhere Jones
Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes announces that Naszhere Jones, 25, of South Hackensack, NJ was found guilty on September 28, 2023 after a jury trial before the Honorable Justine Niccollai J.S.C. of Reckless Manslaughter, in violation of N.J.S.A 2C:11-4(b)(1), Second Degree Unlawful Possession of a Handgun, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5(b)(1), and Second Degree Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:39- 4.
Jury selection commenced on August 7th, 2023. On September 28th, 2023, following approximately one and a half days of jury deliberations, the Jury returned verdicts of guilty for Reckless Manslaughter, Unlawful Possession of a Weapon, and Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose.
The State presented evidence that on March 3, 2021, the defendant, Naszhere Jones, shot Jaquan Harrison once at close range in the back after an argument had ensued. Portions of the events preceding and subsequent to the shooting were captured on surveillance video, including the defendant, Naszhere Jones fleeing the area. The Defendant was eventually apprehended by members of the United States Marshall Service, with assistance from the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office and Passaic County Sheriff’s Department on July 2, 2021, in Old Bridge, NJ.
A sentencing date will be scheduled before the Honorable Justine Niccollai, J.S.C. in the future.
The sentence exposure on Reckless Manslaughter in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:11-4(b)(1) is 5- 10 years New Jersey State Prison, of which 85% must be served before parole eligibility pursuant to the No Early Release Act; on Second Degree Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful purpose it is 5-10 years New Jersey State Prison of which 42 months must be served before parole eligibility, subject to the Graves Act, and on Second Degree Unlawful Possession of a Weapon it is 5-10 years New Jersey State Prison of which 42 months must be served before parole eligibility, subject to the Graves Act
Passaic County Senior Assistant Prosecutor Evan Mongiardo represented the State during the jury trial before Judge Niccollai, and the defense was represented by Mark Bailey Esq.