Man Survives Newark Shooting, Gets Gunned Down Months Later: ECPO

NEWARK, NJ — A man survived a shooting in Newark, only to be gunned down a few months later on the same street. Now, prosecutors have announced a murder conviction in connection with the fatal gunfire, which took place nearly three years ago.

According to the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, a jury found Justen Couram, 23, of Hillside, guilty of first-degree murder, first-degree conspiracy to commit murder and several weapons charges in connection with the shooting death of Quamir Nelson.

Prosecutors said Nelson was seriously wounded in a shooting that took place in April 2021, but survived:

“Mr. Nelson was shot and critically injured while sitting in his car on the 200-block of Pomona Avene on April 7, 2021. Minutes after the shooting, a vehicle driven by Couram and occupied by three other individuals was stopped by Newark police. Officers discovered a weapon that was later determined to have been used in the shooting. Additional evidence including surveillance video tied Couram’s car to the scene.”

Several days later, authorities charged Couram and the other people in the vehicle in connection with the April 7 shooting.

A few months later, tragedy struck again, prosecutors said:

“On December 30, 2021, Mr. Nelson was shot and killed while sitting in his vehicle on Pomona Avenue near the intersection of Aldine Street. Surveillance video showed Couram drove an unknown shooter to and from the location where Mr. Nelson was murdered. Further investigation confirmed Couram was the getaway driver.”

Sentencing for Couram is scheduled for Jan. 9, 2025. He faces a sentence of 30 years to life for the murder count, prosecutors said.

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