Raheem Glaspie and Shaquan Leaks are among the 49 people charged in a gang-related narcotics trafficking bust
NEWARK -- Two men are scheduled to appear in court on Monday after their recent indictment on murder and related charges in a fatal shooting last year that authorities have said was caught on surveillance videos.
Raheem Glaspie, 23, of Irvington, and Shaquan Leaks, 22, of Hillside, are among the 49 people charged last year as part of a gang-related narcotics trafficking bust. They have been accused of gunning down 24-year-old John Betances on May 26 in Newark.
Glaspie and Leaks were indicted on March 4 on murder, conspiracy to commit murder and weapons charges in Betances's death. They are scheduled to be arraigned on the charges on Monday before Superior Court Judge Ronald Wigler.
Glaspie and Leaks remain in custody at the Essex County Correctional Facility in lieu of posting $1.1 million and $1.3 million bail amounts, respectively.
The fatal shooting allegedly occurred in the area of 786 South 18th Street in Newark, authorities said.
Essex County Assistant Prosecutor Naazneen Khan, who is handling the case, previously said surveillance videos allegedly captured Glaspie walking up to Betances and firing multiple shots at him.
The videos also show that after Betances staggered to the middle of the street and fell to the ground, Leaks stood over Betances and fired a single shot at him, according to Khan.
Three days after the killing, authorities were conducting surveillance in the area based on information from a confidential informant, and Glaspie and Leaks were seen within a group of people, Khan said.
At that time, Glaspie had a large-capacity weapon in his waistband, and Leaks had an automatic weapon hanging from a strap around his neck, Khan said. Another person was seen waving a weapon in the air and "everybody starting laughing around him," Khan said.
When authorities attempted to make arrests, Glaspie and Leaks ran off before being taken into custody, Khan said.
Glaspie and Leaks were charged as part of the investigation into the alleged drug trafficking ring. The investigation - called Operation TIDE for "Targeted Integrated Deployment Enforcement" - led to arrests on various charges including drug distribution and possession of illegal firearms.
The drug ring, which dealt mostly in heroin, was run by members of the 793 Bloods, a street gang operating throughout Essex County, authorities said.
Authorities said the investigation led to the seizure of $31,064 in cash, along with multiple quantities of heroin, cocaine, marijuana and other narcotics with a street value of $10,000.
Among the defendants charged in the case is Essex County Sheriff's Officer Robert Andrews, who is accused of disclosing information to the subject of an investigation and assisted in identifying law enforcement officers to alleged members of the narcotics distribution ring.
Bill Wichert may be reached at bwichert@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @BillWichertNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.