Seeking Justice for Syasia McBurroughs

Seeking+Justice+for+Syasia+McBurroughs

Shevanee Cesar, News Editor

NJCU student Syasia McBurroughs was murdered in Newark on Saturday, November 5.

Jeremy Arrington, the man suspected of stabbing McBurroughs and five others, has been charged and is expected to make his first court appearance today, Thursday, November 10. Two children, 8 and 11, also died. Three other victims, 13-year-old twins and a 29-year-old woman (who is also the mother of the slain children) remain in critical, but stable condition.

Arrington was charged with three counts of murder, three counts of attempted murder, criminal restraint, unlawful possession of a handgun, unlawful possession of a knife, and possession of a handgun and a knife for an unlawful purpose.

On the night of November 6, Arrington was found barricaded in an apartment in Newark less than half an hour driving distance from where the tragic incident occurred. He is currently being held in Essex County Correctional Facility on a bail of $5 million.

A viewing for McBurroughs will be held tomorrow (Friday, November 11) at Community Baptist Church of Love, 535 Broadway in Paterson, NJ, from 4 to 6 p.m.; funeral services will be held from 6 to 7 p.m.

The interment will be on Saturday, November 12 at 9:30 a.m. at East Ridgelawn Cemetery (255 Main Avenue) in Clifton.

McBurroughs’ mother, Trenace, created a GoFundMe account seeking financial help. “My [daughter’s] precious life was cut short…by a heartless, evil individual…. I need help with burial expenses, student loans and her other bills.” To make a donation in McBurroughs’ name visit the hyperlink.

University President Dr. Sue Henderson wrote in a mass email sent Monday afternoon that “[Syasia] was highly involved with the NJCU community… She excelled academically and personally and had a positive impact on everyone she met. We are truly blessed to have known her and will remember her as a dear part of our NJCU family.”

McBurroughs also worked on campus in the bookstore. “If she was having a bad day or was going through something, she never came to work showing that. She was always cheerful. She was just a pleasant person. I’m going to miss that,” said Errol Narvaez, store manager of the Barnes & Noble Bookstore.

“No one can ever replace [her],” said psychology major, Shantasia Nicole Artis, who considered McBurroughs as family. “She always kept it real no matter what. If you needed a good friend, she was there.”

Many in the NJCU community have sent their deepest sympathies out to the families of the victims.