On Wednesday, January 29, 2025, members of the United States Marshals Service Florida Fugitive Task Force arrested a Jersey City man in connection with a fatal shooting that occurred in Jersey City on December 8, 2024.
Zafarri Francis, 26, is charged with Murder in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:11-3a(1)/(2), a crime of the first degree; Unlawful Possession of a Weapon in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5b(1), a crime of the second degree; Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4a(1), a crime of the second degree; and Receiving Stolen Property in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:20-7a, a crime of the third degree. He was arrested in Ocala, Florida and was transported to the Marion County Jail where he will await extradition to New Jersey.
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 above charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty. R.P.C.3.6(b)(6)
