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From the Columbia High School Scholarship Fund: Fred Profeta, A CHS graduate, former mayor…

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From the Columbia High School Scholarship Fund:

Fred Profeta, A CHS graduate, former mayor of Maplewood, and president of the Maplewood Foundation, together with an anonymous donor have provided funding to underwrite a dedicated scholarship through the Columbia High School Scholarship Fund (CHSSF). The scholarship will honor Moussa Fofana, a beloved former Columbia High School student and CHS Soccer Team player, whose life ended when he was fatally shot at the Underhill Sports Complex field while walking to a friend’s house on June 6, 2021. Moussa moved to Maplewood from Liberia when he was in the 6th grade. He was a high school junior with dreams of playing professional soccer before his tragic death occurred. 

Moussa Fofana, CHS Class of 2022. Artist: Hayden Grossman.

The Moussa Fofana Scholarship will be awarded for the first time this 2023-24 academic year. The scholarship is a financial need-based award that will be given to a student who is on the CHS (boys or girls) soccer team. If the criteria cannot be met in any given year, a student who demonstrates financial need will be selected. 

Mr. Profeta explains his inspiration to establish this lasting tribute to Moussa: 

I have learned a lot about Moussa since his tragic death. Two things stand out – his love for soccer and his selfless desire to help others. Many have also noted that any testimonial to Moussa should be permanent because the virtues for which he stood are everlasting and his memory should always stand as a model for young people to emulate. A soccer scholarship that will help students with financial need seems a fitting memorial to a young man with considerable skill and character who left us too soon and should be remembered forever. 

Hawa Fofana, Moussa’s mother, Mr. Profeta and family members will be in attendance at CHSSF’s student award reception. “Moussa will be there in spirit with me and his brother Abraham to meet the recipient of the award. This is something he would have been proud to do.” Ms. Fofana added, “To help students pursue dreams that Moussa does not have the opportunity to go after himself is bittersweet but one that I wholeheartedly support. It will ensure that Moussa’s connection to the CHS community and soccer team lives on for as long as the Columbia High School Scholarship Fund exists. For that I am grateful.” 

Hawa and Moussa Fofana

The Columbia High School Scholarship Fund (CHSSF) is celebrating its 100 years of providing need-based scholarships to CHS seniors and graduates. For more information, visit chssf.org.

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]]> Moussa Fofana’s Killer Sentenced to 15 Years, Takes Aggravated Manslaughter Plea https://villagegreennj.com/towns/maplewood/moussa-fofanas-killer-sentenced-to-15-years-takes-aggravated-manslaughter-plea/ Thu, 17 Nov 2022 04:00:02 +0000 https://villagegreennj.com/?p=90462

On November 16, 2022, Yohan Hernandez was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment for shooting…

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On November 16, 2022, Yohan Hernandez was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment for shooting and killing Columbia High School student and soccer player Moussa Fofana, 18, at the Underhill Sports Complex in Maplewood on June 6, 2021.

Local leaders and Fofana’s family have decried the aggravated manslaughter plea deal, with the family’s attorney saying that the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office did not provided the family with information and the opportunity for input in the plea deal.

Fred Profeta, former Maplewood Mayor who has advocated for justice in the case, said the 15-year plea deal was “an insult” and does not align with the facts of the case, or the law.

A march from Columbia High School to Maplewood Town Hall protesting the plea deal and sentencing was held in September.

On November 16, Superior Court Judge Ronald Wigler told Fofana’s family, “Please don’t think this 15-year sentence represents the value of Moussa’s life. There’s not a sentence or a number of years in jail I can give him [Hernandez] that will make your lives whole again. And I’m sorry. But I’m satisfied that under all the circumstances, this plea is fair and appropriate.”

Moussa Fofana has been deeply mourned by the South Orange-Maplewood community — with classmates, teammates and others remembering his broad smile, friendliness, big personality, his passion for soccer and devotion to friends and family. Fofana was remembered with a special banner at CHS boys soccer senior night in 2021. At the Class of 2022 graduation, a seat was left empty for Fofana and his name was called along with the graduates, eliciting thunderous applause.

Hawa Fofana at September 16 rally

Read more here:

From the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office:        

Newark – Acting Essex County Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens II announced today [November 16, 2022] that Superior Court Judge Ronald Wigler sentenced Yohan Hernandez to 15 years in prison for the fatal shooting of Moussa Fofana, who at the time of his death was an 18-year-old junior at Columbia High School in Maplewood.

In a plea hearing on September 22, Hernandez plead guilty to aggravated manslaughter, as well as aggravated assault, and the unlawful possession of a handgun in connection to shooting of Fofana. Under the No Early Release Act, Hernandez, 21, of Newark, must serve 85 percent of his 15-year sentence before being eligible for parole. He will also likely face deportation after serving his sentence because he isn’t a U.S. citizen, said Judge Wigler.

After Fofana’s parents addressed the court, Judge Wigler told them that “this is a terrible tragedy.”

“Please don’t think this 15-year sentence represents the value of Moussa’s life,” added Wigler. “There’s not a sentence or a number of years in jail I can give him [Hernandez] that will make your lives whole again. And I’m sorry. But I’m satisfied that under all the circumstances, this plea is fair and appropriate.”

On June 6, 2021, Maplewood police were dispatched to a field near the Underhill Sports Complex on reports of a shooting. The responding officers found Fofana suffering from a gunshot wound, and later that day he was pronounced dead. A 17-year-old boy was also wounded in the leg.

The Essex County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide/Major Crimes Task Force launched an investigation, along with Maplewood Police, the Essex County Sheriff’s Department, the FBI, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The investigation led to the arrest of Hernandez on August 6, 2021

“The Essex County Prosecutor’s Office shares in the grief experienced by the Fofana family and the entire Township of Maplewood,” said Acting Prosecutor Stephens. “The interests of justice have been served, however, because this killer will not walk the streets in Essex County, and perhaps not in this nation, for years to come.”

Jacqueline Bilinkas, the Assistant Prosecutor who tried the case, added that this was a tragic event that resulted in the loss of a young man who truly touched his community.

“The Essex County Prosecutor’s Office believes that this sentence brought justice to the Fofana family and safety to the community,” said Bilinkas. “It is our hope that this sentence deters future senseless violence in Essex County.”

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]]> Friends, Community ‘Astonished’ as Judge Accepts 15-Year Plea Deal in Moussa Fofana Murder https://villagegreennj.com/breaking-news/friends-community-astonished-as-judge-accepts-15-year-plea-deal-in-moussa-fofana-murder/ Thu, 22 Sep 2022 23:24:09 +0000 https://villagegreennj.com/?p=89604

A judge accepted a 15-year-plea deal for Yohan Hernandez in 2021 murder of Columbia…

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A judge accepted a 15-year-plea deal for Yohan Hernandez in 2021 murder of Columbia High School student Moussa Fofana, in a hearing at the Essex County Courthouse in Newark on Thursday morning.

Hernandez appeared in court before Judge Ronald Wigler, according to reports. Before the plea deal was accepted, Moussa’s mother Hawa and father Yasshe begged Wigler not to accept the plea, and asked for a sentence of 30 years.

Referring to Hernandez, Hawa Fofana said, “He and his group of friends…decided to come over there and take the law into their own hands. That’s murder,” according to an ABC7 News report. 

“A family should never ever equate a number to the value of their loved one,” Wigler said.

“The judge’s comments were very disappointing,” said Fred Profeta, an attorney and former Mayor of Maplewood who has been actively advocating for a strong sentence in the case. “He made no attempt to justify the brevity of the sentence. It’s just another horrible example of how the best justice system in the world can fail people miserably and leave them in agony.”

Rich Pompelio, the family’s attorney, said Wigler’s decision was not surprising “because he followed the law and recognized the prosecutor’s discretion in the plea bargaining process. Yesterday’s proceeding, however, did accomplish several important things. Instead of this plea bargain being quietly put through the system as one more case where the victim remained voiceless, we demonstrated yesterday in open court that victims have constitutional; rights that must be respected by the courts and the prosecutors. By demanding their rights be respected, Moussa’s parents gave a face and a voice to their son in this judicial process. This young man did nothing that excused or justified the intentional taking of his life. The public saw that fact yesterday. Hopefully, this will be a lesson learned by the prosecutor’s office, and it will revise its current plea bargaining practices.”

Hawa Fofana at September 16 rally

Moussa Fofana was 18 years old when he was shot and killed at Underhill Sports Complex on June 6, 2021.

The teen’s family and friends have spoken out against the plea deal, asserting that Moussa’s parents were not informed ahead of time nor given the opportunity to provide any input.

The community held a rally last week and started a petition to protest the alleged plea deal.

Profeta, who helped raise a $50,000 reward in the case, wrote in a letter to Acting Essex County Prosecutor Theodore Stevens on Wednesday that he was “astonished” by the reported plea deal. (See Profeta’s full letter to Stevens below).

Profeta said he consulted with Asst. Chief Prosecutor Tom Fennelly before and after the arrest and was assured the prosecution would “seek a just sentence.”

He wrote in the letter to Stevens: “Because of this, I was astonished to learn that your office has agreed to recommend a 15 year sentence in exchange for a guilty plea by Hernandez. I was especially astonished because of the statement which Hernandez gave to law enforcement, admitting to the intentional murder of Moussa, amounting, in effect, to a confession.”

Profeta continued: “…your office raised the fact that Hernandez would be attempting to raise a self-defense argument on the alleged grounds that Moussa “took a swing” at Hernandez, causing the latter to fire the lethal bullet. You know the facts of this case, and the law, as well as anyone. We both know that responding to a fist with a bullet does not constitute self-defense, as a matter of law.”

Alluding to the 2014 murder of local teen Brendon Tevlin, in which Judge Wigler gave the killer received multiple life sentences without parole, Profeta urged Stevens to reconsider the 15-year-plea in the murder, “…which has brought such anguish to the towns of Maplewood and South Orange. And, of course, this anguish cannot compare to that experienced by Moussa’s mother, Hawa Fofana, and his entire family. Hawa’s grief is only magnified by this prosecutorial failure, made worse by the fact that she was never consulted by your office before you arrived at a deal with Hernandez, even though she has been represented by [an] attorney throughout.”

Read Village Green’s full coverage here.

Dear Chief Prosecutor Stephens:

 

I am a former Mayor of Maplewood. I am a litigating attorney licensed to practice in New York. You may know of me by reason of my involvement in establishing a $50,000 reward fund for information leading to the arrest of Moussa Fofana’s killer. Moussa was a talented and popular student at Columbia High School, and a leader in his sport of soccer.

 

I write this email letter to protest the 15 year proposed sentence for Yohan Hernandez, who has admitted that he intentionally shot and killed Moussa Fofana. The penalty for this senseless crime carries a sentence of 30 years to life in prison, and we discern no legitimate reason why the penalty should not fall within these parameters.

 

I consulted Assistant Chief Prosecutor Tom Fennelly both before and after the arrest of Hernandez to obtain information about the case. Mr. Fennelly knew of my high degree of interest because of the reward effort. He was always extremely courteous and helpful to me. He informed me that the prosecutor assigned to this case is Jacqueline Balinkas, whom he described as a “bulldog” and someone who was certain to seek a just sentence for the killer. Because of this, I was astonished to learn that your office has agreed to recommend a 15 year sentence in exchange for a guilty plea by Hernandez. I was especially astonished because of the statement which Hernandez gave to law enforcement, admitting to the intentional murder of Moussa, amounting, in effect, to a confession.

 

Richard Pompelio, the victims’ rights attorney representing Moussa’s mother, Hawa Fofana, has attended two meetings with prosecutors Balinkas and Fennelly and others to discuss your proposed plea deal. You attended the first meeting. I understand that your office first attempted to justify the proposed sentence on the grounds that “juries are unpredictable.” True enough, but suffice it to say that any tough prosecutor, armed with Hernandez’s confession of intentional murder, should be unafraid to put that assessment to the test.

 

Next, your office raised the fact that Hernandez would be attempting to raise a self-defense argument on the alleged grounds that Moussa “took a swing” at Hernandez, causing the latter to fire the lethal bullet. You know the facts of this case, and the law, as well as anyone. We both know that responding to a fist with a bullet does not constitute self-defense, as a matter of law.

 

The community of Maplewood and South Orange is outraged by the 15 year proposed sentence. I am sure that you have seen the press coverage in the Star Ledger and other media sources. Our protest at Maplewood Town Hall was well covered by the New York television networks. We have circulated a “Justice for Moussa” petition, beginning on September 13, and that petition has already garnered 1,361 signatures as of this writing. You can view the petition on my Facebook page, and a printed copy of the signatures up to two days ago is attached.

 

This case is assigned to Judge Ronald Wigler. You no doubt remember the case arising out of the killing of Brendan Tevlin in 2016. That case was also assigned to Judge Wigler. Tevlin was shot on Northfield Avenue in West Orange, by a stranger. As in this case, Tevlin’s killing was a senseless act of intentional murder. And like Hernandez, Tevlin’s killer confessed to the crime. But unlike the instant case, that killer received multiple sentences of life without parole. He was described by Judge Wigler as a “monster” and an “animal”, deserving to die in prison. How can you or any other competent attorney distinguish these two cases to the extent of justifying the disparity in the sentences which would occur if your recommendation is accepted?

I urge you to reconsider your intended recommendation of only 15 years for Moussa”s horrific murder, which has brought such anguish to the towns of Maplewood and South Orange. And, of course, this anguish cannot compare to that experienced by Moussa’s mother, Hawa Fofana, and his entire family. Hawa grief is only magnified by this prosecutorial failure, made worse by the fact that she was never consulted by your office before you arrived at a deal with Hernandez, even though she has been represented by attorney Pompelio throughout.

 

Thank you for your consideration of this request. The citizens of Maplewood and South Orange trust that your good judgment will prevail in this matter.

 

Very truly yours,

Fred R. Profeta, Jr.

 

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]]> PHOTOS: Protestors Call for Justice in Moussa Fofana Murder, Slam 15-Year Plea Deal https://villagegreennj.com/community/photos-video-protestors-callphotos-protestors-call-for-justice-in-moussa-fofana-murder-slam-15-year-plea-deal-for-justice-in-moussa-fofana-murder/ Fri, 16 Sep 2022 17:56:46 +0000 https://villagegreennj.com/?p=89496

[Update, Sept. 19: a petition to protest the plea deal has been created.] A…

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[Update, Sept. 19: a petition to protest the plea deal has been created.]

A crowd marched Thursday night from Columbia High School to Maplewood Town Hall through the streets of Maplewood to protest a reported plea deal in the murder of then-CHS senior Moussa Fofana. “No justice, no peace!” about two dozen marchers yelled. “Say his name!”

Speakers at Town Hall included Moussa’s mother Hawa; Maplewood Mayor Dean Dafis, who also read a statement by South Orange Village President Sheena Collum, who was unable to attend; and former Maplewood Mayor Fred Profeta. Dafis opened the microphone to the audience after his remarks; a CHS math teacher who taught Moussa and two students from Seton Hall University also spoke.

“What kind of justice is that?” Profeta asked of the plea deal during his remarks. “No justice!” the audience responded.

“This is a terrible insult to Moussa,” Profeta said. He noted that Moussa’s friends and classmates, scattered around the country at different colleges this year, were working hard to bring awareness of the case beyond locals. “This is a national outrage. People all over the country now know what you in Maplewood and South Orange know.”

Hawa Fofana spoke next. She said the plea deal “is not going to do it for me. He needs to go to jail longer than that.” She said of Moussa, “I raised my son. I did a good thing. I did everything for him to do the right thing, and he did. For someone to shoot him, and to come here and tell us it was self defense…that’s not justice for my son.”

Dafis’ speech focused on a need for better gun control and he urged residents to vote in November for candidates invested in social justice. “We are a community that believes in unity and equality,” he said.

The rally and march was organized by advocates and friends of the Fofana family. 

Four students from CHS’s Students for Justice club marched, holding “Justice for Moussa” signs. “It’s definitely disappointing to see how few of Columbia’s students are here,” junior Skylar Smith said. “Although Moussa’s classmates already graduated, it’s quite frightening to see how many people forgive and forget.” She said that because information about the rally was disseminated largely through social media, and CHS did not discuss it with students, it was hard to generate support for the cause on campus. “People could just scroll past it,” said Mariel Amador, another club member. 

On August 23, the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office notified Hawa Fofana that they had struck a 15-year plea deal with Yohan Hernandez, the Newark man arrested and charged with Moussa’s murder. “I was so disappointed and so sad,” Fofana said at the time of the deal. Former Maplewood Mayor Fred Profeta called the deal “an insult” and said that, despite what the prosecutor’s statement, Hawa Fofana did not have adequate input or knowledge of the deal.  A hearing on the deal is set for September 22.

 

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]]> ‘An Insult’: Advocates for Family of Slain Maplewood Teen Blast Prosecutor in Plea Deal https://villagegreennj.com/police-and-fire/an-insult-advocates-for-family-of-slain-maplewood-teen-blast-prosecutor-in-plea-deal/ Thu, 15 Sep 2022 19:13:39 +0000 https://villagegreennj.com/?p=89493

Hours before a planned rally and march to protest the reported 15-year plea deal…

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Hours before a planned rally and march to protest the reported 15-year plea deal in the murder of Maplewood teenager Moussa Fofana, advocates and friends of the family are criticizing the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office for its handling of the case.

Moussa’s mother Hawa Fofana said was called into the prosecutor’s office on August 23 (without her attorney) and told that a plea deal has been struck with Yohan Hernandez, the Newark man arrested and charged in the murder her son.

Fofana said she was disappointed, sad, and “taken by surprise.”

Acting Essex County Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens II said in a statement released Thursday afternoon that his office has kept Fofana informed of important developments in the case and allowed her a chance to have “meaningful input” regarding a plea:

The Essex County Prosecutor’s Office has consistently approached the cases presented to us by following the law and the facts. The tragic homicide of young Moussa Fofana was handled in the same way. Consistent with that approach, we have been mindful of the importance of keeping the family, through their counsel, informed of all important aspects of this case and have afforded them their right to offer meaningful input that we have considered in formulating the proposed plea. Based on the experience and expertise this office possesses, it is our considered opinion that all efforts to resolve this matter have been undertaken keeping all the above in mind.

Rich Pompelio, the family’s attorney, called parts of the statement “self-serving” and said the prosecutor’s contention that his office had provided the family with information and the opportunity for input was “not a true statement.”

Fred Profeta, former Maplewood Mayor who has advocated for justice in the case, said the 15 year plea deal was “an insult” and does not align with the facts of the case, or the law.

He also alleged the prosecutor’s statement was incorrect in several ways:

1) Hawa was not kept informed. Nor was her attorney. Hawa was called to the prosecutor’s office for an “update”, and not told to bring her attorney. That’s when she was informed that the deal had already been made. She never had an opportunity to provide input, contrary to the NJ Constitution and NJ law.

2) The recommended sentence does not comport with the facts and the law. Hernandez has confessed to intentional murder. The penalty for that is 30 years to life. 15 years for taking the entire life of Moussa Fofana is an insult.

3) The prosecutor had defended his position by claiming that the claim of self-defense is viable. It is not, either legally or factually. Hernandez stated that he shot Moussa because he “took a swing” at him. Even if that were true, answering a fist with a lethal bullet is totally disproportionate and the defense is flawed, as a matter of law.

Village Green will be covering today’s protest and will follow up on this story.

RELATED:

‘I Am Disappointed & Sad’ – Mom Reacts to Reported Plea Deal for Man Accused of Moussa Fofana’s Murder

Sept. 15 Protest Planned Against Plea Deal in Moussa Fofana Murder

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]]> Sept. 15 Protest Planned Against Plea Deal in Moussa Fofana Murder https://villagegreennj.com/towns/maplewood/sept-15-protest-planned-against-plea-deal-in-moussa-fofana-murder/ Wed, 14 Sep 2022 15:28:27 +0000 https://villagegreennj.com/?p=89416

Friends and family of Moussa Fofana, who was shot and killed at Underhill Sports…

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Friends and family of Moussa Fofana, who was shot and killed at Underhill Sports Complex in June 2021, are planning a protest march from Columbia High School to Maplewood Town Hall on September 15 in response to a reported plea deal in the case of Fofana’s alleged murderer.

“This was an intentional murder. The penalty for intentional murder is 30 years to life,” said former Maplewood Mayor Fred Profeta. “But the prosecutor has agreed to ask for a ridiculously low prison term of 15 years. The community is outraged. We protest this failure to provide justice for Moussa.”

Profeta helped to raise more than $50,000 in reward money toward the capture and arrest of Fofana’s murderer.

A hearing on the plea deal is scheduled on September 22. Village Green will provide more information on the hearing as it becomes available from the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office.

Moussa’s mother, Hawa Fofana, shared her feeling about the plea deal on Instagram, after the hearing was carried from September 1:

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Bebe H Fofana (@hawabraiding)

Yohan Hernandez, 20, of Newark was arrested and charged with the murder of Moussa Fofana in August 2021. At a virtual arraignment later that month, his attorney claimed that Hernandez shot Fofana in self-defense, after Fofana and a friend allegedly chased Hernandez’s younger brother at Underhill Sports Complex in Maplewood on the night of June 6.

Profeta says that the protest will gather at the entrance to Columbia High School at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, September 15, and then proceed with Maplewood Police escort along Kensington Terrace to Oakland Road to Valley Street and Maplewood Town Hall, where Profeta, Maplewood Mayor Dean Dafis and South Orange Village President Sheena Collum will speak, among others. Information on letter writing and a petition for signing will be available at Maplewood Town Hall.

______________________________________________

MEDIA ALERT

PROTEST PLANNED IN RESPONSE TO PLEA DEAL IN THE CASE OF ALLEGED MURDERER OF MAPLEWOOD TEEN MOUSSA FOFANA

WHO: Friends, family and #JusticeForMoussa supporters of Maplewood, New Jersey teenager Moussa Fofana, who was shot and killed at Underhill Sports Complex in June 2021, are planning a protest march from Columbia High School to Maplewood Town Hall in response to a reported plea deal in the case of his alleged murderer.

WHAT: Maplewood Mayor Dean Dafis and South Orange Village President Sheena Collum will speak about the proposed 15-year sentence and the system’s failure to provide justice for Moussa. A hearing on the plea deal is scheduled on September 22. Former Maplewood Mayor Fred Profeta – who helped to raise more than $50,000 in reward money toward the capture and arrest of Fofana’s murderer – will also speak.

“This was an intentional murder. The penalty for intentional murder is 30 years to life,” said former Maplewood Mayor Fred Profeta. “But the prosecutor has agreed to ask for a ridiculously low prison term of 15 years. The community is outraged.” 

 Moussa’s mother, Hawa Fofana, will be among the marchers and speakers.

WHEN: 5:30 p.m., Thursday, September 15, 2022

WHERE: Protesters will gather at the entrance to Columbia High School (470-482 Valley Street, Maplewood, NJ) and then proceed, with Maplewood Police escort, along Kensington Terrace to Oakland Road to Valley Street, ending at Maplewood Town Hall where the towns’ leadership will address the crowd.

BACKGROUND: Moussa Fofana, an 18-year-old 11th-grader at Columbia High School, was murdered the night of June 6, 2021 at the Underhill Sports Complex, less than a mile from the school. Yohan Hernandez, 20, of Newark was arrested and charged with the murder of Moussa Fofana in August 2021. At a virtual arraignment later that month, his attorney claimed that Hernandez shot Fofana in self-defense, after Fofana and a friend allegedly chased Hernandez’s younger brother at Underhill Sports Complex in Maplewood on the night of June 6.

Information on letter writing and apetition for signing will be available at Maplewood Town Hall. Professional photos will be available after the event.

CONTACT: Rosemary Ostmann, rostmann@rosecomm.com; 201-615-7751

 

 

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]]> ‘I Am Disappointed & Sad’ – Mom Reacts to Reported Plea Deal for Man Accused of Moussa Fofana’s Murder https://villagegreennj.com/police-and-fire/i-am-disappointed-sad-mom-reacts-to-reported-plea-deal-for-man-accused-of-moussa-fofanas-murder/ Tue, 23 Aug 2022 19:16:18 +0000 https://villagegreennj.com/?p=89267

This story was updated on August 24, 2022, to reflect the fact that a…

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This story was updated on August 24, 2022, to reflect the fact that a hearing originally scheduled for August 26 has been rescheduled for September 1. 

Family and friends are reacting in sadness and anger at a reported 15-year plea deal in the murder of Moussa Fofana, the Maplewood teen and Columbia High School student who was shot and killed at the Underhill Sports Complex last year.

Moussa’s mother Hawa Fofana reports that she was told this morning that a plea deal has been struck with Yohan Hernandez, the Newark man arrested and charged in the murder her son.

Essex County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Thomas Fennelly did not confirm the plea deal but wrote to Village Green, “I can confirm that there is a court hearing scheduled for Friday, 8/26/22 at 10:00 am before the Hon. Ronald D. Wigler, J.S.C.” [Update: Per the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, the next court date for State v. Yohan Hernandez is now 9/1/2022, at 9:30 a.m., before Judge Wigler. A meeting link will be shared when it becomes available. The August 26 hearing has been canceled.]

“I am not happy about it all,” said Hawa Fofana. “Fifteen years. That’s nothing.” She added that she was taken by surprise when she heard about the deal this morning. “I didn’t ask too many question because I was so disappointed and so sad.”

The Fofana family’s victim’s rights attorney Richard Pompelio said he was not contacted about the deal or about the meeting with the assistant prosecutor this morning — nor was Moussa’s father.  “Hawa was called by the assistant prosecutor who said they wanted her to come down and talk about the case. They didn’t mention a plea bargain, so she didn’t call me,” said Pompelio, who added that Ms. Fofana was not told what the charge would be in exchange for the plea. “It all happened so quickly. I’ve just sat down to communicate to the county prosecutor.”

Pompelio said that Moussa’s father is “beside himself” about the deal. “We’ve worked hard all these years to make sure this kind of stuff doesn’t happen. … The victims should have time to give the input that the law requires.”

Pompelio called news of the deal “extremely disappointing.”

Former Maplewood Mayor Fred Profeta, who helped raise more than $50,000 in reward money for information aiding in the arrest of Moussa’s murderer, said he spoke with Ms. Fofana today. “If it is indeed 15 years, then I am very upset by this result. It is not commensurate with the energy and emotion that this community put into the location and arrest of Moussa’s killer.”

“The other thing that outraged me about this case is the way they went about it. They called Hawa down yesterday ‘to talk about the case.’ And then she was confronted with the information that a 15-year plea deal has been reached. This was not some two-bit crime. This was murder. Hawa suffered every parent’s worst nightmare. She deserved to provide input before the sentence was agreed upon.”

 

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]]> Newark Man Arrested in Murder of Maplewood Student Moussa Fofana https://villagegreennj.com/police-and-fire/justice-for-moussa-arrest-made-in-murder-investigation-of-chs-student/ Fri, 06 Aug 2021 18:52:03 +0000 https://villagegreennj.com/?p=83184

“Today’s arrest is the beginning of justice for Moussa,” said Maplewood Mayor Frank McGehee,…

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“Today’s arrest is the beginning of justice for Moussa,” said Maplewood Mayor Frank McGehee, after the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office announced the arrest of Yohan Hernandez, 20, of Newark, in the murder of beloved Columbia High School student Moussa Fofana, 18.

“I am thankful that Ms. Fofana can start to have true closure and my thoughts are very much with her at this time,” added McGehee.

“When we spoke earlier today, she was in good spirits. As a community, we will continue our efforts to support Ms. Fofana and her family.”

“Thank you to Prosecutor [Ted] Stephens and his team as well as [Maplewood Police] Chief [Jim] DeVaul and his team,” McGehee concluded. “As elected officials, activists and concerned citizens, we must continue our fight to rid our community and county of illegal guns.”

Hawa and Moussa Fofana

Moussa’s mother Hawa Fofana provided the following statement to media: “My family felt a great sense of relief this afternoon upon learning of the arrest in the shooting death of our beloved son, Moussa Fofana. We would like to express our gratitude to law enforcement and to our entire community for their commitment to justice over the last couple of months.”

Former Mayor Fred Profeta, who helped raise more than $50,000 toward a reward for information to help solve the murder, was reached for comment about the arrest: “What’s significant is that this is obviously due to a lot of great police work, and the involvement of the FBI demonstrates how seriously this was taken and the level of the resources brought to bear.  Frankly I’m quite proud of Maplewood and South Orange because the community really rallied to the side of Moussa’s mother and made it clear that these two towns weren’t going to settle for less than the arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators.”

After Fofana was shot and killed while crossing the fields at the Underhill Sports Complex on the way to a friend’s house on the evening of June 6, community and family members were shocked that the friendly and widely beloved teen had been murdered. In the days following, they held memorials and rallies and demanded updates from law enforcement. As the weeks passed with no arrests, many grew fearful that Fofana’s murder would remain unsolved. The rallying cry “Justice for Moussa” was printed on flyers and plastered on social media.

Today, when news of the arrest was announced, one commenter on social media expressed in simple terms what many felt; “Thank God.”

Village Green will continue to update this story.

From the Office of the Essex County Prosecutor:

Newark – Acting Essex County Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens, II, and Maplewood Police Chief Jimmy DeVaul announced today that Yohan Hernandez, 20, of Newark has been arrested and charged with the murder of Moussa Fofana, 18, of Maplewood.

On Sunday, June 6 at approximately 9:38 pm, Maplewood police officers were dispatched to an area of Underhill Field on Garfield Place on reports of a shooting. Arriving officers located Fofana suffering from a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene at 10:24 pm. A second male victim was treated at an area hospital for a non-life-threatening gunshot wound.

Late yesterday Hernandez was taken into custody and charged with murder, aggravated assault, unlawful possession of a weapon and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose.

These are accusations. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until they enter a guilty plea or are found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Yohan Hernandez

The arrest comes following an investigation led by the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide/Major Crimes Task Force with assistance from the Maplewood Police Department, the Essex County Sheriff’s Department under the direction of Sheriff Armando Fontoura, the FBI under the direction of Special Agent in Charge George M. Crouch, Jr. and the U.S. Attorney’s Office under the leadership of Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig.

The investigation remains active and ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide/Major Crimes Task Force at 1-877-TIPS-4EC or 1-877-847-7432.

Calls will be kept confidential.

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]]> ‘SunUp’ Fundraiser in Maplewood August 13 to Raise Funds for ‘Justice for Moussa,’ Isaiah House https://villagegreennj.com/community/sunup-fundraiser-in-maplewood-august-13-to-raise-funds-for-justice-for-moussa-isaiah-house/ Thu, 05 Aug 2021 00:49:14 +0000 https://villagegreennj.com/?p=83161

From Isaiah House: MAPLEWOOD, N.J. – August 3, 2021 – The social services nonprofit…

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From Isaiah House:

MAPLEWOOD, N.J. – August 3, 2021 – The social services nonprofit organization Isaiah House announced today that it will hold its first annual “SunUp” event at 7 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 13, in Maplewood Memorial Park. Inspired by the popular morning rave party Daybreaker, the event includes an hour of yoga and meditation with Baker Street Yoga, followed by spirited dancing led by local disc jockey Jen Jones, an Australian native who has spun at exclusive shows across the world.

Proceeds will be donated to Isaiah House, East Orange’s only homeless shelter, and the “Justice for Moussa” fund – dedicated to solving the June murder of Moussa Fofana, who was an 18-year-old Columbia High School junior.

“I am a huge fan of Daybreaker, and it struck me that we could do a similar benefit in Maplewood,” says Kristen Beveridge, South Orange resident who serves on the Isaiah House board. “Yoga and dancing are activities that people of all ages can enjoy, so families can come together. This is a perfect event to kick off a summer day.”

Isaiah House provides support services for the most fragile members of the community, including those who have been devastated by unemployment, illness, drug addiction, teenage pregnancy, fires and crises. During COVID, the shelter provided nearly $285,000 in rental assistance to East Orange residents, and its food pantry served nearly 12,000 people from 6,000 households – a 40 percent increase over 2019.

“Though the need for funds continues to be strong due to COVID’s devastating impact, we’ve been unable to hold live events for over 18 months,” says Elizabeth Kubany, co-chair of the event and Isaiah House board member. “We are thrilled to produce this fantastic outdoor experience and hope to sell all 250 tickets we have available.”

The SunUp for Isaiah House event takes place from 7:00 a.m.-9:30 a.m. EST on Friday, August 13 at 580 Valley Street in Maplewood. Tickets are $60 for adults, $30 for teens, and $100 for families; the event is limited to 250 participants. Coffee and treats will be available during the event for purchase via Drip Coffee and other local vendors. Custom Isaiah House t-shirts can also be purchased in advance and worn at the event, with proceeds going to Isaiah House.

To learn more and purchase tickets, click here. SunUp is part of the Isaiah House Houses of Love Summer Series. The summer program invites supporters in the surrounding area to open their yards, patios, decks and pools to friends and family for fundraising events. So far, the program has raised $16,000, with three more parties planned in August.

About Isaiah House:

Isaiah House is a community fixture established in 1988 with a mission to reduce the prevalence of homelessness, hunger and unemployment throughout Essex County with a focus on the Oranges and Newark. Serving as an alliance between the Community Service Council of the Oranges and Maplewood (a division of United Way of Essex and West Hudson) the Junior League of the Oranges and Short Hills, and the Concerned Clergy of East Orange, Isaiah House remains the only shelter in East Orange and provides temporary and permanent lodging, food, social and financial services, as well as comfort and hope for families and individuals every year. The organization’s unique approach is based on the firm belief that individual progress and development is enhanced and augmented by the assistance of loved ones.

To learn more about Isaiah House, visit: https://www.isaiahhouse.org/

Click here to purchase tickets: https://secure.givelively.org/event/isaiah-house/sunup-for-isaiah-house

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]]> Moussa Fofana’s Murder Still An Active Investigation; ‘We Don’t Sleep At Night Thinking About This Case’ https://villagegreennj.com/police-and-fire/moussa-fofanas-murder-still-an-active-investigation-we-dont-sleep-at-night-thinking-about-this-case/ Wed, 04 Aug 2021 20:09:25 +0000 https://villagegreennj.com/?p=83169

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]]> ‘It Can Be Somebody Else’s Child Tomorrow’: Reward in Moussa Fofana Murder Upped to $50K as Family, Community Push for Information https://villagegreennj.com/police-and-fire/it-can-be-somebody-elses-child-tomorrow-reward-in-moussa-fofana-murder-upped-to-50k-as-family-community-push-for-information/ Thu, 15 Jul 2021 00:07:48 +0000 https://villagegreennj.com/?p=82900

Editor’s note: anyone with any information about the murder of Moussa Fofana can contact…

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Editor’s note: anyone with any information about the murder of Moussa Fofana can contact the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office confidential hotline at 877-TIPS-4EC (877-847-7432), or submit information confidentially to the Essex County Sheriff’s Office Crimestoppers program.

As family and friends struggle with the lack of public information surrounding the murder of Maplewood teenager Moussa Fofana, authorities and community members are making a renewed push to find who is responsible for shooting the Columbia High School student at a sports facility on June 6.

“I believe in my heart that someone saw something,” Moussa’s mother, Hawa Fofana, told Village Green on Wednesday. “I hope someone can step up and do the right thing, so [the perpetrator] can’t do it again. That would make me happy and I can go to sleep at night.”

Moussa Fofana

Former Maplewood Mayor Fred Profeta, who has led efforts to raise money for the “Justice for Moussa Reward Fund,” and previously donated $10,000 announced Wednesday he was contributing another $10,000, bringing the reward total to $50,000.

“The most important thing is justice for Moussa Fofana,” Profeta said in news release from the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office. “We want to see the person or persons responsible for his murder apprehended.”

Essex County Chief Asst. Prosecutor Thomas Fennelly told Village Green on Wednesday that the investigation is continuing and ongoing. “No resources are being spared.” Along with the increased reward, Essex County and Profeta have released a flyer they plan to distribute throughout Maplewood, South Orange, and neighboring towns.

Maplewood Police Chief Jim DeVaul said last week that the case has not “gone cold” and remains a top priority. “We all want justice for Moussa and his family,” said DeVaul, “We need to get this right. The victims and family members deserve nothing less.”

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“I just want justice for my son,” said Hawa Fofana, who called Moussa “a sweet boy” who was respectful and kind to everyone. “For this to happen to me, it can happen to anybody. It can be somebody else’s child tomorrow.”

Hawa Fofana

See the full release from the Essex County Prosecutors Office below: 

Newark – Acting Essex County Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens, II, announced today that Essex County Sheriff Armando Fontoura’s Crime Stoppers Program is now offering a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the death of Moussa Fofana, an 18-year-old Maplewood soccer standout who was shot at the Underhill Sports Complex.

Former Maplewood Mayor Fred Profeta has written a personal check for $10,000 and he has spearheaded efforts in the community to raise more funds for the reward.

“The most important thing is justice for Moussa Fofana. We want to see the person or persons responsible for his murder apprehended,” said former Mayor Profeta.

At approximately 9:38 pm on Sunday, June 6, Maplewood police officers were dispatched to the area of Underhill Field on Garfield Place on reports of a shooting. Arriving officers located Fofana suffering from a gunshot wound. Fofana was pronounced dead at the scene at 10:24 pm. A second male victim was treated at an area hospital for a non-life-threatening gunshot wound.

The investigation, which is active and ongoing, is being handled by the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide/Major Crimes Task Force and the Maplewood Police Department.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide/Major Crimes Task Force at 1-877-TIPS-4EC or 1-877-847-7432.

Calls will be kept confidential.

 

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]]> PHOTOS: Moussa Fofana’s Mom Pleads for More Info, Reward Fund Increases to $44K+ https://villagegreennj.com/police-and-fire/photos-moussa-fofanas-mom-pleads-for-more-info-reward-fund-increases-to-44k/ Thu, 01 Jul 2021 15:45:46 +0000 https://villagegreennj.com/?p=82740

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]]> ‘Justice for Moussa’ Rally Planned for June 30, More Than $30K Raised for Reward https://villagegreennj.com/police-and-fire/justice-for-moussa-rally-planned-for-june-30-more-than-30k-raised-for-reward/ Sun, 27 Jun 2021 15:03:29 +0000 https://villagegreennj.com/?p=82661

A rally demanding justice for Moussa Fofana, the 18-year-old Columbia High School junior who…

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A rally demanding justice for Moussa Fofana, the 18-year-old Columbia High School junior who was shot and killed June 6 at Underhill Sports Complex in Maplewood, is planned for June 30.

The rally will begin at 6 p.m. at Ritzer Field at Columbia High School and then proceed to Underhill Sports Complex.

No arrests have been made as yet. An investigation, which is active and ongoing, is being handled by the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide/Major Crimes Task Force and the Maplewood Police Department. More than $30,000 has been raised in reward money for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for Fofana’s death.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide/Major Crimes Task Force at 1-877-TIPS-4EC or 1-877-847-7432.  Calls will be kept confidential.

Former Maplewood Mayor Fred Profeta, who donated $10,000 to the reward fund, is organizing contributions. “More than $10,000 has been collected since I made my contribution to the County’s reward fund,” said Profeta. “The total is now in excess of $30,000.  I hope this helps to shake some information loose.”

Those who want to contribute to the reward fund by Venmo can send donations to @Fred-Profeta and add “Justice for Moussa” in the note section.

“Venmo may ask you for the last 4 digits of my phone number for verification purposes – they are 1108,” says Profeta, who shared this information with local media as well as on Facebook. “If you want to donate by check, make it payable to Essex County Sheriff’s Crimestoppers and on the memo line write ‘Justice for Moussa’. Send your checks to me and I will get them to the Sheriff. We want to keep track of all the money that is being collected in the “Justice for Moussa Reward Fund” and sent to the Sheriff. My address is 1 Hickory Drive, Maplewood 07040. PLEASE SHARE THESE INSTRUCTIONS!”   

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