Ishmeal Coleman
On Tuesday, July 23, 2024, the Honorable John A. Young, J.S.C. sentenced Ishmeal Coleman to 45 years in New Jersey State Prison for the 2018 death of Takeela Wilson.
A jury found Coleman, 48, guilty of Murder in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:11-3; Unlawful Possession of a Weapon; and Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose on February 16, 2024, following a multi-week trial. Coleman’s sentence is subject to the No Early Release Act and he is parole ineligible until 85% of his sentence is served.
The State was represented in this matter by Hudson County Assistant Prosecutor Najma Rana.
On August 12, 2018, at approximately 4:30 p.m., the Jersey City Police Department received a report of an injured female at 391 Forrest Street. Upon arrival, responding officers located an unresponsive victim – later identified as Takeela Wilson, of Jersey City – with an apparent stab wound to the torso. She was pronounced dead at the scene at approximately 4:35 p.m. The Regional Medical Examiner’s Office determined the Cause of Death to be a Stab Wound of the Chest and the Manner of Death to be Homicide.