Man Charged With Murder In Fatal December Shooting In Jersey City Arrested

The Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office announced this morning that the United States Marshals Service, Florida Fugitive Task Force, arrested 26-year old, Zafarri Francis of Jersey City on Wednesday, January 29, 2025 in connection with a fatal shooting that occurred in Jersey City on December 8, 2024.

According to Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez, Francis has been charged with murder, a crime of the first degree; unlawful possession of a weapon, a crime of the second degree; possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, a crime of the second degree; and receiving stolen property, a crime of the third degree.  He was arrested in Ocala, Florida and was transported to the Marion County Jail where he is awaiting extradition to New Jersey.

A press release from Suarez’s office states, “On December 8, 2024, shortly after 11:20 p.m., the Jersey City Police Department was notified of a shooting on Fairview Avenue between John F. Kennedy Boulevard and West Side Avenue. Responding officers located a male victim – later identified as Dushawn Bell, 34, of Elizabeth – with apparent gunshot wound(s). He was transported to Jersey City Medical Center where he was pronounced dead on December 9, 2024 at approximately 3:40 a.m. The Regional Medical Examiner’s Office has found the Cause of death to be multiple gunshot wounds and the Manner of death to be homicide.”

Prosecutor Suarez credited the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide Unit and the Jersey City Police Department with the investigation and the United States Marshals Service Florida Fugitive Task Force with the arrest.

The charges against Francis are merely accusations and he is presumed innocent until proven guilty.