Joanne Deborah Chesimard Dead at 78: Decades-Long Fugitive Status Ends
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
CUBA / NEW JERSEY – Cop Killer Assata Shakur, a figure whose life fueled decades of political debate and international intrigue, has died in Cuba on September 26th at the age of 78.
Known legally as Joanne Deborah Chesimard, Shakur made national headlines in the 1970s following her conviction for the murder of a New Jersey State Trooper. She had been a fugitive from the United States government for decades, having received political asylum in Cuba.
A Critical Moment on the Turnpike: The 1973 Shootout
Chesimard‘s name is indelibly linked to a violent incident that took place on the New Jersey Turnpike in East Brunswick in 1973.
During a traffic stop that escalated into a shootout, New Jersey State Trooper Werner Foerster was killed, and another trooper was critically injured. Chesimard was arrested at the scene.
In 1977, a jury convicted Chesimard of first-degree murder for the killing of Trooper Foerster. The trial, held in New Brunswick, was moved from Middlesex County to Morris County following a change of venue request by the defense.
From Conviction to Fugitive Status
Prior to her arrest on the Turnpike, Chesimard was already a wanted person. A political activist and member of the Black Liberation Army, she was sought by the FBI and NYPD on various charges, including allegations of bank robberies and violent assaults on police officers.
The next major twist in her story came two years after her conviction. In 1979, Chesimard successfully escaped from the Clinton Correctional Facility for Women in Hunterdon County, New Jersey.
She remained on the run for several years before ultimately fleeing to Cuba, where she was granted political asylum. She had been living there under protected status ever since.
Calls for Justice and Extradition
For decades, political leaders and law enforcement officials in New Jersey tirelessly worked to bring Chesimard back to the U.S. to complete her sentence. Her death closes the door on the possibility of a final legal resolution.
In a joint statement following the news of her passing, Governor Phil Murphy and New Jersey State Police Superintendent Patrick Callahan reflected this sentiment:
“For years, we have worked with the State Department to bring Chesimard back to New Jersey, so she could face justice for the cold-blooded murder of an American hero. Sadly, it appears she has passed without being held fully accountable for her heinous crimes.”
Tell your story #TheRidgewoodblog , #Indpendentnews, #information, #advertise, #guestpost, #affiliatemarketing,#NorthJersey, #NJ , #News, #localnews, #bergencounty, #sponsoredpost, #SponsoredContent, #contentplacement , #linkplacement, Email: Onlyonesmallvoice@gmail.com
Human garbage