On the afternoon of Wednesday, February 16, 2022, James Shaw, 25, was shot in the back of the head while talking with two acquaintances at the intersection of Shephard Avenue and Mapes Place in Newark, New Jersey. ShotSpotter detected the gunfire, first responders found multiple shell casings at the scene, and Shaw was taken to University Hospital, where he later died. He was an organ donor.

The Essex County Prosecutor’s Office led the investigation and identified a suspect from Elizabeth, 20-year-old Mahdi Wright. Wright was arrested and later tried; an Essex County jury found him guilty of first-degree murder and related weapons offenses. The motive has not been made public.

If anyone was on or near Shephard Avenue and Mapes Place that afternoon or has information about what led to the shooting, please come forward.