On Thursday, January 23, 2025, 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 that occurred in Jersey City on Saturday, January 18, 2025.
The 16-year-old is charged as a juvenile with Murder in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:11-3a(1), a crime of the first degree; Attempted Murder in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:5-1a(1) and 2C:11-3a(1), a crime of the first degree; Aggravated Assault in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1b(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 Unlawful Possession of a Weapon in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5b(1), a crime of the second degree. Juvenile matters are confidential and no additional information can be released at this time.
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 nonfatal gunshot wound.
Prosecutor Suarez credited the Homicide Unit and the Jersey City Police Department with the investigation and arrest. The above charges are merely accusations and the juvenile is presumed innocent until proven guilty. R.P.C.3.6(b)(6)
