Manhunt For Suspect Who Killed Teen At Mother's Day Motorcycle Blessing

A manhunt is underway for a suspect involved in the fatal shooting of a 15-year-old New Jersey teen on Mother’s Day.

Police have offered no clues as to who could have been involved in the fatal shooting of an Essex County during an annual Mother’s Day motorcycle blessing event in Newark on Sunday. But authorities say they’re conducting a search that extends beyond the county - and across the state.

News12 reported that family and friends gathered at a memorial Monday afternoon to mourn Al-Shakeen Woodson’s loss. Woodson played football for the Brick City Lions, a youth league that made it to the national tournament last year.

His mother offered a plea for someone to find the suspect, according to the report:

“Whoever did this, I just want you to turn yourself in, because [Woodson] wasn’t a bad kid,” said Sherkimea Zigler, the teen’s mother.

According to the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, three adults were also shot and suffered non-life threatening injuries during the Newark Knights motorcycle club’s annual “Blessing of the Bikes,” which took place in the city’s South Ward and attracted hundreds of riders from across the state.

Woodson was pronounced dead at University Hospital following the shooting.

Authorities are conducting an investigation, stated the ECPO.

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka told ABC7 that the city doesn’t have the resources to provide police presence at such an event.

“They’ve had this event in the past, and it has not had an incident, but it’s been unruly since then,” Baraka stated.

A LONG-RUNNING EVENT

According to the Newark Knight’s website, the club took over management of the event from another local organization, Lefty’s Magnificent Ones MC of Newark, in 1976.

A post on the Newark Knights’ Facebook page on May 9 stated that the event would include a large presence of “Newark’s Finest,” who would deal with any “wilding out, wheelies, burnouts or other unlawful activities.”

“We humbly invite all to come out… and show love and respect for the community and get our bikes blessed,” the post stated. “Come help us celebrate a safe, peaceful and enjoyable Mother’s Day.”

In 2011, a spokesman for the club told Patch that the annual Mother’s Day blessing is about “unity” and “bringing people together.” [See related Patch article]

The club is active in the community, their website claims.

“Throughout the years, the Newark Knights MC has been committed to the growth and development of Newark’s youth. In 2006, we started the Newark Knights MC Scholarship Fund. The Knights also host an annual Children’s Day Celebration to help prepare Newark’s youths for back to school by providing much needed book bags and other school supplies.

“Other charitable accomplishments include our Toys for Tots Christmas Toy Drive as well as clothing drives for the local shelters. We are also involved with the HIV Awareness Campaign, Bikers Against Breast Cancer and Bikers Against Diabetes.”

Photo caption: Sherkimea Zigler, the teen’s mother, from News12 video