April 8, 2022

Newark Man Found Guilty of Triple Homicide Sentenced to 375 Years in New Jersey State Prison

Newark – Acting Essex County Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens, II, announced today that Jeremy Arrington, 32, of Newark was sentenced to 375 years for murdering three people and attempting to murder three more after becoming enraged over a Facebook comment.

The Honorable Ronald D. Wigler, the judge who presided over Arrington’s 10-day jury trial, gave Arrington three consecutive life sentences for fatally stabbing two young siblings, Ariel Little Whitehurst, a seven-year-old female, and her 11-year-old brother, Al-Jahon Whitehurst, as well as shooting to death, Syasia McBurroughs, a 23-year-old friend of the family who was just visiting on November 5, 2016.

On March 4, Arrington was convicted of 28 counts, including three counts of murder, three counts of attempted murder, burglary, criminal restraint, unlawful possession of a handgun, unlawful possession of a knife, and possession of a handgun and a knife for an unlawful purpose.

In addition to the three consecutive life sentences for murder, today, Judge Wigler imposed consecutive 50-year sentences for each of the three attempted murder convictions for the surviving victims. Under the No Early Release Act, Arrington would have to serve a total of 281 years of his 375-year sentence before being eligible for parole.

Under New Jersey law, a life sentence is 75 years. A defendant sentenced to life must serve 63 years and nine months before he is eligible for parole.

On Saturday Nov. 5, 2016 Arrington unlawfully entered the Whitehurst home located in the 100 block of Hedden Terrace in Newark while armed with a loaded firearm. The evidence at trial revealed Arrington then tied up the individuals located inside the apartment and proceeded to torture them by stabbing them with kitchen knives. The stabbings resulted in the death of the two children. The defendant then shot and killed McBurroughs, who was pronounced dead at the scene. The children were pronounced dead at University Hospital. Three other stabbing victims were saved by emergency medical personnel. One of the survivors of the stabbing, a 29-year-old female, is the mother of the two murdered children. The other two surviving stab victims, a 13-year-old male and his twin 13-year-old sister, were siblings of the 29-year-old female. Police were able to respond because a young girl with autism, who is unrelated to the family and was just visiting, escaped and called for help from her phone in a closet.

Arrington fled the scene before the police were able to apprehend him. Arrington was captured the next day, Sunday, Nov. 6, 2016 barricaded in a residence in the 200 block of Pomona Avenue.

Deputy Chief Assistant Prosecutor Justin Edwab, who tried the case with Assistant Prosecutor Chelsea Coleman, argued for six consecutive life sentences given the number of people who were tortured and killed and Arrington’s lengthy prior criminal record. From 2006 to 2016, the year of the triple homicide, Arrington was arrested ten times. He had four felony convictions and had three different pending charges when he entered the Whitehurst home that day in November.

Following the sentencing, Deputy Chief Assistant Prosecutor Edwab, said, “Justice has been served. This defendant is pure evil and clearly deserves all 375 years in New Jersey State Prison for the terrible crimes he committed on Nov. 5, 2016. These families have waited over 5 years for this moment, and we are all so grateful for this sentence. Thank you to all those who helped bring this defendant to justice and thank you to the jury for holding this defendant accountable.”

Assistant Prosecutor Coleman said, “While nothing can bring back the lives of Ariel, Al-Jahon, and Syasia, we hope today’s sentence will provide some sense of closure to their families.”

Man Convicted of Triple Murder

Newark – Acting Essex County Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens, II, announced today that an Essex County jury has convicted Jeremy Arrington, 31, of a triple murder. He was convicted of murdering a female college student as well as two children.

The two children, Ariel Little Whitehurst, a seven year-old, and her 11-year-old brother, Al-Jahon Whitehurst, were stabbed to death by the defendant. The third victim, Syasia McBurroughs, 23, an adult female, was shot to death.

Late yesterday, following a ten-day jury trial before the Honorable Ronald D. Wigler, J.S.C., Arrington was convicted of 28 counts, including the three counts of murder, three counts of attempted murder, burglary, criminal restraint, unlawful possession of a handgun, unlawful possession of a knife, and possession of a handgun and a knife for an unlawful purpose.

At trial the State presented 25 witnesses, including 9 expert witnesses, and successfully argued that on the afternoon of Saturday Nov. 5, 2016 Arrington unlawfully entered the Whitehurst home located in the 100 block of Hedden Terrace in Newark while armed with a loaded firearm. The proofs revealed Arrington then tied up the individuals located inside the apartment and proceeded to torture them by stabbing them with kitchen knives. The stabbings resulted in the death of the two children. The defendant then shot and killed the adult female. The children were pronounced dead at University Hospital and the adult female was pronounced dead at the scene.

Emergency medical personnel were able to save three of the stabbed victims. The surviving victims of the stabbings included a 29-year-old female, a 13-year-old male and a 13-year-old female, who are twins. According to Deputy Chief Assistant Prosecutor Justin Edwab, who tried the case with Assistant Prosecutor Chelsea Coleman, the police were able to respond before more lives were lost as a result of young girl with autism who escaped and called for help from her phone in a closet.
“The loss of three lives and the anguish caused by this defendant is unfathomable,” said Deputy Chief Assistant Prosecutor Edwab.
Arrington subsequently fled the scene before the police were able to apprehend him. Shortly before 8 p.m., on Sunday, Nov. 6, 2016 Arrington was discovered barricaded in a residence in the 200 block of Pomona Avenue and stated he had a hostage. Police discovered that the hostage allegation was false and Arrington was arrested without incident.

The attack was apparently prompted by a comment on Facebook.

“We are forever grateful to the courageous survivors and witnesses who testified as well as the investigative personnel who helped bring this defendant to justice. Hopefully this verdict will bring some form of justice to all of the families and friends affected by this defendant’s horrific actions” stated Deputy Chief Assistant Prosecutor Edwab

Sentencing is scheduled for April 8 before the Judge Wigler. Arrington faces multiple life sentences

Man Charged with Killing Three, Injuring Three

Newark – ActingEssex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray and Newark Public Safety Director Anthony F. Ambrose announced today that Jeremy Arrington, 26, of Newark has been charged in a triple homicide in which a young college student, who was visiting the family, and two children were fatally stabbed.

Arrington, who is in custody, has been charged with three counts of murder, three counts of attempted murder, criminal restraint, unlawful possession of a handgun, unlawful possession of a knife, and possession of a handgun and a knife for an unlawful purpose.

It is alleged that on Saturday afternoon Arrington went to a home in the 100 block of Hedden Terrace in Newark and fatally stabbed three individuals. There were a total of nine people in the home at the time – four adults and five children. Arrington was known to the family. After the attack Arrington fled.

Shortly before 8 p. m., on Sunday, Nov. 6, Arrington was discovered barricaded in a residence in the 200 block of Pomona Avenue.  Just after 9 p.m., Arrington was arrested without incident. The arrest was carried out by the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force, the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office and the Newark Police Department.
Arrington is currently being held at the Essex County Correctional Facility in Newark on $5million bail set by the Honorable Russell Passamano, Judge of the Superior Court.

Arrington is scheduled to make his first court appearance on Thursday, Nov. 10 before the Honorable Ronald Wigler, Criminal Division Presiding Judge.

The three deceased individuals have been identified as:

1. Aerial Little Whitehurst, female, age 8, of Newark;

2. Al-Jahon Whitehurst, male, age 11, of Newark;

3. Syasia McBurroughs, female, age 23, of Cedar Knolls.

The two children were pronounced dead at University Hospital at 4:40 p.m. and McBurroughs was pronounced dead at the scene.

Three other victims, a 29-year-old female, a 13-year-old male and a 13-year-old female, who are twins, remain hospitalized in critical, but stable condition.

The investigation is active and ongoing. It is being investigated by the Essex County Prosecutor’s Major Crimes Task Force, which includes detectives from the Newark Police Department.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Prosecutor’s tips line at 1-877-TIPS-4EC or (877) 847-7432.

Acting Prosecutor Murray commended the US Marshals Fugitives Task Force, Newark Police and the detectives in the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office for their outstanding work in investigating the case and making a prompt arrest of the suspect.

These are accusations. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until they enter a guilty plea or are found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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