Gym To Be Named For Damon Murray, Hoboken High School Athlete Who Died This Month

HOBOKEN, NJ — Hoboken's community gym will be named after Damon Murray, a teacher's aide and former scholar athlete at Hoboken High School who passed away two weeks ago, the city announced Thursday.

The gym is located at 605 Jackson St. It's been the site of athletic events and health screenings.

Murray was shot to death late at night on Saturday, May 4, due to a fight after a $30 gambling debt, various sources have said. He was 21. READ MORE: Services To Be Held For Damon Murray

He had been serving as a teachers' aide in the Hoboken schools, and had passed the test to become a firefighter. He had excelled at two sports at Hoboken High School and was a walk-on football player at Rutgers.

The city issued this press release:

Mayor Ravi S. Bhalla and the city of Hoboken today announced the city will rename the gymnasium at 605 Jackson St. in honor of Damon Murray, a lifelong Hoboken resident who tragically lost his life to gun violence last month at the age of 21.

Damon Murray embodied the very essence of resilience and leadership, leaving an indelible mark on our community through his athleticism and unwavering dedication to guiding our youth,” said Mayor Bhalla. “By renaming the gymnasium in his honor, we pay homage to his legacy and pledge to continue the fight against senseless gun violence, ensuring that Damon's light continues to inspire and guide us all."

“I am blessed to see the outpouring of love and support the community had, and continues to have, for my son," said Damon’s mother, Carolyn Dejarnette-Murray. “Damon is gone too soon, but I hope the gym renaming will help make sure he will never be forgotten.”

A 2020 graduate of, and star athlete for the football and basketball teams at Hoboken High School, Damon was a preferred walk-on for the Rutgers University football program. Damon was recently working for the Hoboken Public School District, specifically with special needs children as a paraprofessional. He was on his way to becoming a Hoboken Fire Fighter and furthering his career in public service, when his life was tragically cut short.

The city will officially unveil new signage naming the gym the “Damon Murray Community Gym" at a celebration this summer.