Man Convicted Of Triple Murder In Essex County; 2 Kids, Woman Mourned

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — It began with a comment on Facebook, prosecutors say.

On Friday, an Essex County jury convicted Jeremy Arrington, 31, of a triple murder that took place in Newark in November 2016. Arrington illegally entered a local home, tied up the people inside the apartment and “tortured” them with kitchen knives, killing two children – Ariel Little Whitehurst, 7, and her brother, Al-Jahon Whitehurst, 11 – and injuring several others. He also fatally shot a college student, Syasia McBurroughs, 23, during the “horrific” attack, according to the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office.

Police were able to apprehend Arrington when a young girl with autism escaped and called for help from her phone in a closet, authorities said.

According to the prosecutor’s office, “the attack was apparently prompted by a comment on Facebook.”

The jury convicted Arrington of 28 counts after a 10-day trial, including three counts of murder, three counts of attempted murder, burglary, criminal restraint, unlawful possession of a handgun, unlawful possession of a knife, and possession of a handgun and a knife for an unlawful purpose.

Prosecutors presented 25 witnesses during the trial, including nine expert witnesses. Arrington faces multiple life sentences; sentencing is scheduled for April 8.

The Essex County Prosecutor’s Office released more information about the murders in a statement:

“On the afternoon of Saturday, Nov. 5, Arrington unlawfully entered the Whitehurst home located on the 100-block of Hedden Terrace in Newark while armed with a loaded firearm. The proofs revealed Arrington then tied up the individuals located inside the apartment and proceeded to torture them by stabbing them with kitchen knives. The stabbings resulted in the death of the two children. The defendant then shot and killed the adult female. The children were pronounced dead at University Hospital and the adult female was pronounced dead at the scene.”

Prosecutors continued:

“Emergency medical personnel were able to save three of the stabbed victims. The surviving victims of the stabbings included a 29-year-old female, a 13-year-old male and a 13-year-old female, who are twins … Police were able to respond before more lives were lost as a result of young girl with autism, who escaped and called for help from her phone in a closet.”

Prosecutors concluded:

“Arrington subsequently fled the scene before the police were able to apprehend him. Shortly before 8 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 6, Arrington was discovered barricaded in a residence on the 200-block of Pomona Avenue and stated he had a hostage. Police discovered that the hostage allegation was false and Arrington was arrested without incident.”

“The loss of three lives and the anguish caused by this defendant is unfathomable,” said Deputy Chief Assistant Prosecutor Justin Edwab, who tried the case with Assistant Prosecutor Chelsea Coleman.

Edwab credited the conviction to “the courageous survivors and witnesses who testified,” as well as investigators.

“Hopefully this verdict will bring some form of justice to all of the families and friends affected by this defendant’s horrific actions,” Edwab said.

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