NJ Man Convicted Of Newark Murder After Victim IDs Him: Authorities

NEWARK, NJ — An Essex County man has been found guilty of murder after he fatally shot a 19-year-old Newark resident in 2019, prosecutors announced last week.

A jury in Essex County convicted Zahir “Peewee” Moore, 22, of Newark, of first-degree murder in connection with the fatal shooting of Waleik McCollum, 19, of Newark, in September 2019.

The Essex County Prosecutor’s Office released the following statement about the shooting:

“On September 29, 2019, McCollum was shot at nine times by Moore with a .40-caliber handgun around Brookdale and Lindsey avenues in Newark. McCollum was struck twice, including a gunshot wound to the head. He survived for more than 24 hours and was able to identify his shooter as ‘Peewee’ before dying from his injuries. Prior to the murder, Moore had been observed on surveillance video searching for McCollum and lingering outside his residence.”

Following a four-day, the jury returned a verdict of guilty on all counts, convicting Moore on one count of first-degree murder, one count of second-degree possession of a firearm for an unlawful purpose, and one count of second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm.

Sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 24. Moore faces 30 years to life in New Jersey state prison for the murder conviction, prosecutors said.

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