NJ Man Murdered Stranger Outside Supermarket, Found Guilty: Prosecutor

ORANGES, NJ — An Orange resident was found guilty of murder in connection with the fatal shooting of an East Orange man outside a supermarket in Essex County two years ago, prosecutors recently announced.

Last week, an Essex County jury convicted Darienne Murray, 37, of Orange, of murder in connection with the fatal shooting of Melja Oliver, 37, of East Orange.

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

“On June 3, 2022, East Orange police responded to the area of the ShopRite supermarket on Main Street in East Orange, and found Oliver’s body lying on the side of the building. It was later determined Oliver had died from a gunshot wound to his head. An investigation by detectives from the Prosecutor’s Homicide Task Force, which includes members of the East Orange Police Department, led to the arrest of Murray on June 8, 2022. The investigation revealed that the victim was confronted by Murray on the side of the supermarket at which time, Murray produced a handgun and shot Oliver in the head. There is no indication that the men knew each other prior to this incident.”

After a three-week trial, a jury found Murray guilty of murder, unlawful possession of a weapon, and possession of a weapon for unlawful purpose.

Murray has been held in custody at the Essex County Correctional Facility since his arrest, and will remain there pending his sentencing. He faces up to life in New Jersey State Prison and must serve at least 30 years of his sentence before becoming eligible for parole, prosecutors said.

Sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 6.

“Melja was a father, uncle, and brother,” assistant prosecutor Jason Alterbaum said, adding that his family “suffered a horrible loss” when he was killed.

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