Newark Shooting Survivor Identifies a Suspect

Newark authorities say that the lone survivor of an execution-style shooting that left her brother and two friends dead has picked out a suspect. Nineteen-year-old Natasha Aerial, who is still in the hospital after being shot in the head, selected a suspect from a photo array. The Star-Ledger reports that the suspect was included in the array because his fingerprints were among those found on a beer bottle at the schoolyard where the shootings took place.

However, there is tension between the Newark police and prosecutors about how to handle the suspect. Essex County prosecutor Paula Dow's office says that there is not enough evidence to arrest the man, which has irked others in government. The NY Times reports that the Newark police and City Hall "have complained in the past about Ms. Dow’s reluctance to make arrests in murder cases that rely on a single eyewitness." Law enforcement officials are worried that the man, an Ecuadorean immigrant, may flee the country.

However, Newark Mayor Cory Booker denied that Aerial picked a suspect. He and Dow announced that the reward for information leading to an arrest was now $150,000. Additionally, over $100,000 has been raised raised for the families of the victims. Booker also promised that Aerial and her family would be protected, given the Newark's history of intimidation and violence towards witnesses, and offered to protect anyone with information about the case.

Aerial, her brother Terrance, Iofemi Hightower, and Dashon Harvey had been hanging out late Saturday night in the schoolyard of the Mount Vernon School, in Newark's middle-class Ivy Hill neighborhood, when a group of men approached the group of four. Terrance Aeriel, Hightower, and Harvey were made to kneel before being shot in the head; some reports have mentioned that Hightower had defensive knife wounds and that her ear may have been cut off. Police believe the men intended to rob the four.

Update: CNN is reporting that Newark authorities have arrested a suspect - and that he is 14-15 years old.

Photograph of Dow and Booker by Mike Derer/AP

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in News on August 9, 2007 8:11 AM

Comments [rss]

guest

This really upsets me.That this man turned him self in to the mayor and confessed that hes was involved or maybe the shooter.But the thing is he was plead not guilty and on top of that he has numorous counts of other crimes and raped a 5 year old girl and hes not GUILTY?????????? That is crazy I think the mayor and the investigators are making a big mistake.SINCE HES NOT GUILTY DOES THIS MEAN HES FREE NOW SO HE CAN RAPE ANOTHER LITTLE GIRL AND KILL OTHER KIDS?????

guest

I don't know who behind all of this, but they need to find out who's behind it or another puzzle of this is the movie Scarface for gangs.

According to Wikipedia, latino people emulated

the movie first, then African Americans next, and white people.(if all possibly true.) or could it these teachers or parents trying to tell them slavery stuff so that they can treat other kids what they are a long time ago. plus, they should spend 99 years in prison like they did with Dr. King's killer and it should be no sense that it can affect the whole nation. He's making a big deal out of this I think. I think we have another corrupt mayor in our town. that's some stuff the president would do. Make a big deal out of a state being destroyed. And those students should not be trespssing in the first place. These guys can't think of a simple idea like hiring detectives to a find out who's the criminal mastermind and they should arrest them. Think about TV detctive shows, ppl. How many ppl came/come up with that idea? Plus, many kids lie to their parents. These kids lie all the time to their parents to where they are going. knowing they'll kill other teenagers, thinking into playing with them. Newark needs detectives to find out who's the blood's leader and the crip's leader and put them in jail for life.

guest

Something doenst sound right here. I watched a confrence with the mayor and Paula. Frist off why do we have to know the names of each counsilman or woman? And why was she so bent on being right and making it a success story. Theres no way to make it a success, Its a murder. I think these people get caught up in catching someone be it the perpatrator or one that has before to satisfy the public. That beer bottle could have been there from days ago. Something just smells fishy about the suspects and paula dows attitude.

guest

May those souls rest in peace, a speedy recovery for Natasha, and I hope they will lock up the despicable killer in jail for life.

guest

My god, this isn't a race issue, this is a societal issue. There's something very very wrong with a community when children 14 or 15 years old are EXECUTING people with guns.

I am completely against police states, but when things like this happen there needs to be a strong show of law enforcement that sends a clear message: We are here to support and protect law abiding citizens from thugs and gangs who will be hunted down like the dogs that they are, recruiting children into their midst.

guest

Garbage In...Garbage Out... Now we have two groups to blame for destroying the U.S.

ed_Extinct

14-15 years old? if he goes to trial, he'll be treated as an adult. no doubt. they also have a 31-year-old hispanic suspect.

Newark: time for martial law.

guest

Twenty years of a city run previously by a pimp - Booker certainly has his work cut out for him

guest

I'm watching a press conference with Booker and Dow, and wondering - "why does Ms Dow appear teary-eyed?" Sorry, but she is weak!

guest

Thank you my latino brothers

Your friend,

Reverend Al

JMH

14-15 years old? Damn, that's crazy.

I wouldn't be so quick to label Ms. Dow, [3]. I'm sure she wants to make an arrest and get a conviction as much as anyone - people who don't feel that way don't become prosecutors. She's doing her job by not being overzealous.