16-Year Old Charged With Murdering 15-Year Old Girl In Jersey City

Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez has announced the arrest of a 16-year old male in connection to the fatal January 18, 2025 shooting of a 15-year old girl in Jersey City.

Suarez reports that on Thursday, January 23 members of the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide Unit arrested a 16-year-old Jersey City male in connection with the fatal shooting of 15-year-old Cianna Lee.

The 16-year-old has been charged as a juvenile with murder, a crime of the first degree; attempted murder, a crime of the first degree; aggravated assault, a crime of the second degree; possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, a crime of the second degree; and unlawful possession of a weapon, a crime of the second degree.   Because juvenile matters are confidential, no additional information is being provided at this time.

According to a press release from the Prosecutor’s Office, “On January 18, 2025, shortly after 11:00 p.m., the Jersey City Police Department was notified of a shooting in the area of Martin Luther King Drive and Union Street in Jersey City. Responding officers located two female victims with apparent gunshot wounds inside of a motor vehicle on Oak Street. The first victim – later identified as Cianna Lee, 15, of Jersey City – was transported to Jersey City Medical Center where she was pronounced dead shortly after 1:20 a.m. on January 19, 2025. The Regional Medical Examiner’s Office determined the Cause of Death to be Gunshot Wound and the Manner of Death to be Homicide. The second victim – a 37-year-old female relative of Lee – was transported to Jersey City Medical Center where she was treated for a non- fatal gunshot wound.”

Prosecutor Suarez credited the Homicide Unit and the Jersey City Police Department with the investigation and arrest.

The above charges against the 16-year old suspect are merely accusations and the juvenile is presumed innocent until proven guilty.