On the evening of Saturday, July 16, 2022, 24-year-old Rasheed Mells of Irvington was shot on the 700 block of South 20th Street in Newark and was pronounced dead at the scene at 6:07 p.m. He was known to friends and family as Trippo and was described as a charismatic, free-spirited young man with a passion for music, aspiring to be a rap artist; he also enjoyed dancing to Jersey Club music and playing sports, and placed great importance on family.

The Essex County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide/Major Crimes Task Force, with detectives from the Newark Police Department, investigated the killing and identified a suspect. In late August 2022 authorities announced the arrest of Chauncey Venable, who was charged with murder, unlawful possession of a weapon, and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose. Those charges are allegations and the legal process is ongoing.