Akim Ward was 21 when he was shot and killed on the afternoon of Saturday, April 4, 2020. Police were called for reports of gunfire shortly after 3:15 p.m. on Ocean Avenue between Bidwell and Bayview Avenues in Jersey City. Officers found Ward with gunshot wounds to his upper body; he was taken to Jersey City Medical Center and pronounced dead at about 3:30 p.m. The cause of death was gunshot wounds and the manner of death was ruled a homicide.

The Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide Unit and the Jersey City Police Department investigated and identified two suspects. On May 4, 2020, 23-year-old Devon Tutten of Jersey City turned himself in and was arrested and charged with murder, possession of a firearm for an unlawful purpose, and unlawful possession of a weapon. On the evening of May 8, 2020, 28-year-old Tyree Witherspoon of Jersey City was arrested without incident on Stevens Avenue and charged with the same offenses; he was taken to the Hudson County Correctional Facility in Kearny.

If anyone witnessed the shooting on Ocean Avenue that afternoon or has information about Ward’s death, please share what is known.