Newark – Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray announced today that an Essex County jury has convicted Jerrell Alexander, 22, of Irvington of the murder of Mencea Ryner,18, also of Irvington.
“This defendant purposely and without regard for others opened fire on Mr. Ryner, fatally shooting him multiple times and putting others in danger. With this conviction the Township of Irvington is safer,’’ said Assistant Prosecutor Justin Edwab, who tried the case.
Authorities said on Nov. 18, 2014 Ryner was shot and killed by Alexander on Lincoln Place in Irvington. Subsequently, on Dec. 17, 2014 two men, Jaime Walker and Davon Arrington, who had witnessed the fatal shooting, were shot while walking on Orange Avenue in Irvington.
Walker, 18, of Irvington, died from the Dec. 17, 2014 shooting. Arrington, who was with Walker on Dec. 17, 2014, was shot in the face and suffered a broken jaw and severed tongue but survived.
Following a trial before the Honorable John I. Gizzo, late on Friday, Oct. 7, an Essex County jury convicted Alexander of the murder of Ryner, conspiracy to commit murder, unlawful possession of a .45 caliber gun and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose from the Nov. 18, 2014 shooting. Alexander was also convicted of unlawful possession of a weapon, a 9mm handgun, which was the class of the weapon used in the murder of Walker on Dec. 17, 2014.
At trial the state alleged that on Nov. 18, 2014, Alexander, who was captured on video tape, road up on his bicycle carrying a .45 caliber gun with a laser scope and shot at Ryner four times, striking him in the brain, the heart and the body.
Although charged as a co-conspirator, Alexander was never charged with Walker’s murder. Alexander was acquitted of the conspiracy to commit Walker’s murder along with witness tampering and other charged related to the shooting of Arrington on Dec. 17, 2014.
Sentencing for Alexander is scheduled for Dec. 5 before Judge Gizzo. Alexander faces 30 years to life on the murder alone. This is his second conviction.
At the time of Ryner’s murder, Alexander was on probation for third degree theft.
Jassiem Harper, 22, also of Irvington, was charged with the murder of Walker and as a co-conspirator in connection with the Dec. 17, 2014 shooting.
Harper's matter was severed from Alexander's case and will be tried separately.
The charges against him are accusations.
All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until they enter a guilty plea or are found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.