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McKenzie Jr. Murder Charge Withdrawn
posted (April 17, 2014)
Tonight, George McKenzie Jr. - son of slain gang leader George "Junie Balls" Mckenzie Sr - is in detention after he was taken to court but couldn't be arraigned for the charge of murder. Investigators were sure that they had the right man. But at the very last minute, new information suggesting an alibi was brought forward from the upper ranks of the Department, causing the charge to be suddenly withdrawn - which is very unusual.

Police were sure that he was the shooter who gunned down 57 year-old Alfonso Cruz in Rhaburn's Alley on April 12. They got a statement from an eyewitness who Mckenzie Jr had allegedly tried to shoot immediately before Cruz was murdered. Plus, they did an ID parade where McKenzie was identified as the gunman who shot Cruz. But at the last minute, reports tell us a senior police officer intervened with alibi evidence in Mckenzie's favor. This caused McKenzie, who was already at court to be arraigned, to get a last minute reprieve. Senior Magistrate Sharon Frazer, who would have presided over the arraignment, stood the case down and demanded that police make sure that they got it right with McKenzie as the supposed gunman who killed Cruz. The case didn't make it back before Senior Magistrate Frazer, and that's where it stands tonight, with McKenzie in custody while police await a second directive from the Director of Public Prosecution as to whether or not they should continue against McKenzie. We understand that at this time, the charge that McKenzie would have been arraigned for has been withdrawn, and not by the DPP, which is the lawful authority able to do that. Instead, the murder charge has to be formally brought against McKenzie once again where a new court book would be prepared.

But that may or may not happen depending on what level of importance DPP Cheryl-Lynn Vidal places on that alibi evidence which has emerged.

Neighbors tell us that Cruz was killed in a random act of violence. The 57 year old was a working man who was in his yard, when the shooter failed to kill his target and then turned the weapon on the front of Rhaburn's Alley, fatally injuring Cruz.

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