Family members speak out after 9-year-old boy shot and killed in Newark; man charged

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Thursday, February 6, 2025
Arrest made after 9-year-old boy shot and killed in Newark
Sonia Rincon has the latest details on the arrest.

NEWARK, New Jersey (WABC) -- Family members are grieving the loss of 9-year-old Yasin Morrison who was shot and killed in Newark over the weekend.

On Wednesday police made an arrest and officials are expected to release more details about the accused gunman on Thursday.

Yasin Morrison, who had autism and was non-verbal, was killed Friday evening while on the doorstep of his grandparents' home.

Morrison was shot when he, his 3-year-old sister and another man were getting out of a car as the kids were getting ready to spend the weekend with their grandmother as they usually do.

Officials announced Jesse J. Dunbar II, 36, was arrested and charged with murder, attempted murder and aggravated assault among other charges.

He is also charged with shooting an unidentified man who authorities believe he was targeting Friday night on Osborne Terrace.

Investigators believe Dunbar was stalking an unidentified 36-year-old man who was walking along the sidewalk on Osborne Terrace. He allegedly pulled out a gun and fired, injuring that man, but a bullet also struck Morrison.

"I'm happy that they caught the person, but it will never bring us Yasin back," Latasia Morrison, Yasin's aunt said.

Morrison's family is trying to stay strong for its younger family members. They said they are grateful for the outpouring of love and support from a community stung by the tragedy.

"They've rallied around our family. The police rallied around our family. They wouldn't stop until somebody was caught for this senselessness," Morrison's grandmother Tisha Bolden said.

That quiet rainy evening was shattered by gunfire just as the 9-year-old was walking up to his grandma's house where his young cousins were waiting to see him.

"We just heard gunshots and shooting, and then the next thing we saw was, Yasin laying on the sidewalk," Bolden said.

"For them to witness, to see their cousin like that, it's very traumatic. And we just don't wish this on anybody," Morrison said.

They're now planning a funeral for Yasin and help is coming from the Newark community and beyond via a GoFundMe.

As the family prepares to say goodbye and honor the sweet little boy his grandma says despite being autistic and nonverbal he communicated and taught her so much.

"He taught me unconditional love. He taught me patience. He taught me humility. He taught me so many things that I just, I'm gonna miss that every day, just his little face and his hugs," Bolden said.

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