Phillip Wiggins of Jersey City has been Arrested and Charged with Murder of Damone Smith

Wiggins was arrested without incident on Wednesday, April 22, 2020, just before 7 pm, at a residence on Seymour Avenue in Newark.

Wiggins has been charged with Murder in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:11-3A(1)(2), a first-degree crime; Possession of a Weapon (firearm) for an Unlawful Purpose in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4A(1), a second-degree crime; and Unlawful Possession of a Weapon (firearm) in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5B(1), a second-degree crime. At the time of his arrest, Wiggins was found to be wanted on a Fugitive from Justice warrant from Texas and was also processed on that charge, N.J.S.A. 2A:160-10.

On Tuesday, March 31, 2020, just after 8:30 p.m., members of the Jersey City Police Department responded to a report of shots fired in the area of Cator Avenue and Rose Avenue in Jersey City.

Responding officers were also informed that the victim, later identified as Damone Smith, 25, of Jersey City, was transported from the scene in a private vehicle. Smith, who had been transported to the Jersey City Medical Center, sustained gunshot wound(s) to the upper body and was pronounced deceased at approximately 2:15 a.m. on April 1, 2020. The cause of death was determined to be from a gunshot wound and the manner of death was determined to be homicide.

Prosecutor Suarez credited the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide Unit and the Jersey City Police Department for the investigation and arrest.

The above charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty. R.P.C.3.6(b)(6).