A Jersey City murder suspect on the run since a late June shooting that left one man dead is now sitting in a Wake County jail cell without bond.
Court records list the suspect as 36-year-old Raheem Rhett of Jersey City. He was arrested in Wake County on Monday and booked into the Wake County Detention Center. Rhett is scheduled to make his first appearance in Wake County court Tuesday afternoon.
According to Wake County court documents obtained and reported by CBS17, Rhett was taken into custody by the Wake County Sheriff’s Office on July 6. Records show the arrest was made without a warrant. A magistrate later documented that the warrantless arrest was justified because Rhett was considered a fugitive charged in New Jersey with an offense punishable by death or imprisonment for more than one year and that there was probable cause to hold him. The paperwork notes he is being held at the county detention center while the case moves forward.
Charges Filed By Hudson County Prosecutors
Prosecutors in Hudson County have identified Rhett as the suspect in a June 28 Jersey City shooting that killed 38-year-old Jenardo Tejada and wounded a 45-year-old man. He faces charges including murder, three counts of attempted murder, aggravated assault and multiple firearms offenses, according to Hudson County View.
Prosecutors have described the case as an active homicide investigation and publicly urged anyone with information to reach out to their office. As with all criminal cases, the allegations against Rhett remain accusations unless and until they are proven in court.
Where The Shooting Happened
Police say the gunfire broke out around 2:30 a.m. on Orient Avenue near Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in Jersey City. Responding officers found Tejada suffering from gunshot wounds and rushed him to Jersey City Medical Center, where he later died, as reported by News12.
Investigators later located a second victim, a 45-year-old man, at Jackson Square. He had been shot but survived with non-fatal injuries. The Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide Unit is investigating the case alongside the Jersey City Police Department.
Why Wake County Could Arrest Him Without A Warrant
North Carolina law allows officers to arrest someone without a warrant when they have reasonable grounds to believe the person is a fugitive charged in another state with a serious offense, as outlined in North Carolina General Statutes Chapter 15A. After such an arrest, a magistrate is required to review the situation, determine whether probable cause exists and complete the necessary paperwork.
That process is reflected in the magistrate’s written findings in Rhett’s Wake County court records, which state that the warrantless arrest was appropriate under the fugitive provisions. If New Jersey pursues extradition, the case typically proceeds through formal requisition procedures between the two states.
What Happens Next In Wake County
For now, Rhett remains in the Wake County Detention Center while officials in Wake County and prosecutors in New Jersey coordinate the next steps. The detention center is the county facility that handles intake for people arrested locally and holds them while charges are processed or until they are transferred, according to county detention information.
Whether and when Rhett is transported back to New Jersey to face the Hudson County charges will depend on a formal extradition request from New Jersey authorities and how that process plays out in court.
How To Help Investigators
Local reporting notes that Hudson County prosecutors have asked anyone with information about the Jersey City shooting to contact their office or submit an anonymous tip. One outlet reported that the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office has a dedicated tip line and an online form for confidential tips.
Anyone who knows anything about the June 28 shooting is urged to share details with the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office so investigators can follow up. Their ongoing homicide investigation can include reviewing surveillance video, interviewing witnesses and conducting forensic analysis in the weeks ahead.
