8-year-old boy killed himself with gun without his uncle’s supervision, authorities say

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The 8-year-old boy who was found dead from a gunshot wound over the weekend in a Newark home shot himself with his uncle’s gun which was left unattended, authorities said.

Officers found the boy, identified as Jahmeer Allen on Tuesday, died Sunday night of a self-inflicted gunshot wound at a house 100 block from Schuyler Avenue, according to a joint statement from the Essex County District Attorney’s Office. and the Newark Police Department. Allen was disabled and had to use a wheelchair, authorities said.

At the time of the shooting, there was a 10-year-old boy in the house as well as Jahnaya Black, Aunt Allens, 23, who was sleeping, police said.

Black and Allen’s grandmother and legal guardian, Shaneefah Allen, 43, have been charged with second degree endangering a child’s well-being, the office said. Shaneefah Allen was not at home at the time of the shooting, officials said.

Jahmeers’ uncle Marquis Wright, 18, has been charged with unlawful possession of a second degree weapon, endangering the welfare of a child in the third degree, transportation in the third degree of ‘a firearm manufactured without a serial number and a disorderly persons offense of allowing a minor access to a loaded firearm, authorities said. It is alleged that Wright brought the gun into the apartment and left it unattended.

Shaneefah Allen and Black were in custody Tuesday afternoon while Wright was still at large, the office said.

Anyone with information has been urged to contact the Essex County Attorney’s Office Homicide and Major Crime Working Group at 1-877-TIPS-4EC or 1-877-847-7432.

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka shared his condolences with the Jahmeers family on Tuesday.

My condolences to the family, said Baraka. No matter what happens, losing an 8 year old is a tragic event. It’s a horrible situation for the family, for everyone involved.

A candlelight vigil was organized at the home where the shooting took place.

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Chris Sheldon can be contacted at [email protected].

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