Ten-year-old Jordan Garcia Vereen, a beloved player for the West Ward Hawks youth team, was tragically shot and killed while walking home from practice in Newark on Saturday night, November 15, 2025.
Everyone knew him as a smiling, energetic kid who lived for the game.
The shooting happened around 8:30 p.m. near the corner of Chancellor Avenue and Leslie Street, just steps from a liquor store.
Surveillance video showed a group of people standing outside when two gunmen suddenly opened fire, spraying dozens of bullets into the crowd. Jordan was hit along with four others.
Jordan and 21-year-old Kiyah Mae Scott were rushed to University Hospital but did not survive.
Jordan’s 11-year-old brother was also shot; he is now in stable condition. Nineteen-year-old Masi Rogers remains in critical condition, and 60-year-old Sheppard Miller is stable.
Essex County prosecutors have announced a $10,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest of the shooters and are urging anyone with tips to come forward.
Jordan had just left the Newark Recreation Center after football practice with the West Ward Hawks, a team that means everything to kids in the neighborhood.
Jordan Garcia was wearing the Jersey he loved so much when the shots Rang Out
His coach, William Rollins, started a GoFundMe titled “In Loving Memory of Our Young Hawk” that has already raised thousands toward a $6,000 goal. Coach Rollins wrote:
“He was more than a player on our field—he was light, energy, and joy. A bright kid with a smile that could lift a whole sideline. Funny, full of life, always cracking jokes, and always the first to run onto the field ready to learn. When he put that Hawks jersey on, he was proud. And every time he touched the ball, you saw the spark in his eyes. The kids loved him. The coaches loved him. He was family.”
Via GoFundMe
The West Ward Hawks also posted on their community page:
“We sincerely appreciate the support for Jordan… We cordially invite you to join us for a balloon release ceremony in loving memory of our brother, Jordan Garcia… Every donation, no matter the size, is valued, and Mom Garcia personally extends her gratitude.”
Via Facebook
The team held a balloon release on Sunday at 5 p.m., and hundreds of teammates, families, and neighbors attended, wearing Hawks colors to bid farewell.
Perhaps the most heartbreaking words came from Jordan’s father, Akeem Vereen, who shared a poem titled “For Jordan” on social media:
“You came into this world a light I didn’t know I needed… You were laughter in a quiet room, kindness in a cold world… And now the world feels wrong. Too quiet. Too dark. Too heavy… Rest in Paradise, Jordan Garcia Vereen. Forever 10. Forever my son. Forever loved.”
Via Facebook
Jordan Garcia should have been celebrating touchdowns and birthdays for decades to come. Instead, his family is planning a funeral.
His teammates are trying to understand why their little brother is gone. And an entire community is left asking how many more kids have to die before the gunfire stops.
Rest in peace, Young Hawk. You were loved by so many, and you will never be forgotten. #JusticeForJordan
