It was announced in late August that a grand jury has indicted Donavan E. Watts, 35, of Millville, in the shooting death of 19-year-old mother of one, Aaliyah Eubanks of Bridgeton during a home invasion last year.
Since last year, the Police investigation has focused on three suspects who entered Eubanks’ apartment at the Burlington Manor Apartments complex, off South Burlington Road in Bridgeton, shortly after 3 a.m. on March 16, 2021. The men fled the apartment complex after gunshots were heard, police said. Accounts from what happened inside the apartment were relayed to law enforcement and news sources by a young woman who was staying at Eubanks’ apartment that night. According to those reports, the three men tied up both females and then dragged Eubanks to another part of the apartment where they beat her severely and eventually shot her – at least six times.
Eubanks was found by Police with multiple gunshot wounds, and was rushed to Inspira Health Center Bridgeton, where she died of her injuries.
In September of 2021, the New Jersey Free Press focused attention on the Eubanks murder with extended details about the crime after the Bridgeton Police and the Cumberland County Prosecutor’s Office Detectives retrieved a Intratec Tec-9 semi-automatic pistol from Union Lake in Millville in late August. Preliminary ballistics testing linked it to Eubanks’ murder. The gun was located just off of the Lake’s boat ramp – approximately seven miles from the victim’s apartment in Bridgeton.
Donavan E. Watts, 35, of Millville, indicted for the brutal murder of 19-year-old Aaliyah Eubanks
Watts was first arrested on May 17 and charged with murder and conspiracy to commit murder, it was announced. Authorities also noted that they were confident that Watts did not act alone in this homicide and reported that “additional persons of interest have been identified as a result of this investigation.”
Aaliyah Eubanks was born and raised in Bridgeton, New Jersey, and attended Bridgeton public schools. She is survived by her mother Jennifer Williams – Crosell (Rahmir Crosell), her father Aaran Eubanks Sr., her Son Kyron Martin, two brothers Angel Cruz, Aaran Eubanks Jr., two sisters Jaida and Ariana Crosell and many friends and relatives who cherish her memory and miss her dearly. Eubanks was laid to rest on Friday, March 26, 2021 at Fordville Cemetery in Fairfield Township, New Jersey.
Those with information about this murder case can call Bridgeton police Sgt. Daniel Bagley at 856-451-0033 or Detective Edward Stockbridge of the Cumberland County Prosecutor’s Office at 856-453-0486. Tips also can be left at bpd.tips or ccpo.tips.