Edison Man Sentenced for Role in New Brunswick Murder

An Edison man has been sentenced to 12 years in state prison for his role in a 2008 gang-related murder in New Brunswick.

According to a press release from the state Attorney General's Office, Davon Parker, 24, of Edison, was sentenced on Dec. 4 in Hudson County after having pleaded guilty to charges of first-degree racketeering on Nov. 19, 2012.

He must serve at least 10 years without parole.

According to the release, Parker's guilty plea admits his role in a June 2, 2008 shooting on Nichol Avenue, in which Devin Thompson, 19, was killed.

Parker assisted co-defendants Syree Hakins and Tyrane Mathis in planning and carrying out the shooting, according to the release.

A friend of Thompson's, Christopher Whitsett was shot in the back during the incident, but survived, according to the release.

Hakins, 40, of West Orange, and Mathis, 36, of Newark, pleaded guilty to first-degree racketeering in connection with the murder and were sentenced on March 3, 2011 in Hudson County.

Hakins admitted ordering Thompson's murder, and Mathis admitted participating in it on behalf of the gang, according to the release.

The men are all associated with the Nine Trey Headbustas set of the Bloods street gang, including Thompson.

Hakins was sentenced to 16 years in prison, including 13.5 years of parole ineligibility, according to the release.

Mathis was sentenced to 12 years in prison, and must serve 10 years before being eligible for parole.

Parker, Hakins and Mathis were all charged in a 2010 grand jury statement from the Division of Criminal Justice that brought first-degree racketeering charges charges against 18 members and associates of the gang and its leader, Michael Anderson, according to the release.

Anderson led the gang while incarcerated in state prison, according to the release.

"The indictment stemmed from “Operation Hardhat,” an investigation that began in 2007 and was conducted by the New Jersey Department of Corrections Special Investigation Division, the State Police Street Gang North Unit, the Division of Criminal Justice Gangs and Organized Crime Bureau, the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office and the New Brunswick Police Department.  They were assisted by the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, Jersey City Police Department, Newark Police Department, Paterson Police Department and other law enforcement agencies," the release said.

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