2 Newark Men Charged With 2021 Murder of 16-Year Old Jersey City Resident

Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez has released the following information:

Two Newark men have been arrested in connection with the shooting death of 16-year-old Kaheem Taylor in Jersey City on March 29, 2021.

Khalil Kelley, 23, is charged with Murder in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:11-1a, a crime of the first degree; Conspiracy to Commit Murder in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C: 5-a(1) and 2C:11-3a, a crime of the first degree; Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose in violation of 2C:39-4a(1), a crime of the second degree; Unlawful Possession of Weapon in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:39- 5b(1), a crime of the second degree; and Certain Persons Not to Possess a Firearm in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-7b(1), a crime of the second degree. Roger Pickett Jr., 22, is charged with Murder as an Accomplice in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:2-6a and 2C:11-3a, a crime of the first degree, and Conspiracy to Commit Murder in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:5-2a(1) and 2C:11-3a, a crime of the first degree.

Kelley was arrested by members of the United States Marshals Service New York/New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force at his place of employment in Hillside on Friday, December 9, 2022. Pickett Jr. was arrested at the Hudson County Correctional Facility, where he is being detained on charges relating to the fatal shooting of Jovahn Horne in Jersey City on November 1, 2022. Both are being held at the Hudson County Correctional Facility pending their first court appearances.

On Monday, March 29, 2021, just after 10:30 p.m., members of the Jersey City Police Department responded to a report of shots fired in the area of 83 Bergen Avenue in Jersey City. Responding officers found a male victim – later identified as Kaheem Taylor, 16 – with apparent gunshot wounds to the upper body. He was transported to Jersey City Medical Center where he was pronounced dead at 11:15 p.m.

Prosecutor Suarez credited the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide Unit and the United States Marshals Service New York/New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force with the arrests and investigation. The above charges are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. R.P.C.3.6(b)(6)