BRONX, NY—The New York Police Department has apprehended and charged 32-year-old Jalessa Richardson in connection with a homicide that occurred early last month. Richardson was arrested early Wednesday in the Bronx and faces charges of second-degree murder, first-degree manslaughter, and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon.

The incident took place on Saturday, June 1, at 1418 Oakley Street, where officers were dispatched following a 911 call about a female victim assaulted. The victim, identified as 37-year-old Ashley Smith of Mt Vernon, NY, was found with a severe neck wound. She was transported by emergency services to NYC Health and Hospitals/Jacobi, where she was pronounced dead.

Richardson, a resident of 1544 Walton Avenue in the Bronx, was taken into custody without incident. The arrest was made at 1:10 AM by officers of the 47th Precinct, who have been investigating the case since the incident was reported.

Shore News Network Staff Report Latest posts

Shore News Network Staff Report is the official newsroom byline used by Shore News Network when a story is produced through the collaborative work of multiple members of the editorial team rather than a single reporter.

This newsroom account is reserved for articles that involve contributions from multiple journalists, editors, photographers, researchers, or news desk staff. It is also used for developing stories that are updated as new verified information becomes available, as well as for community announcements, weather coverage, public safety alerts, election results, and other newsroom-produced content.

Every article published under the Shore News Network Staff Report byline is reviewed and edited in accordance with the organization's editorial standards for accuracy, fairness, attribution, and transparency. Information is verified through official government agencies, court records, law enforcement, public documents, direct reporting, interviews, and other reliable primary and secondary sources before publication whenever possible.

The Staff Report account does not use artificial intelligence to independently generate news or publish unverified information. AI-assisted tools may occasionally be used for editorial support tasks such as transcription, formatting, grammar review, or workflow efficiency, but all published content is subject to human editorial oversight and approval by Shore News Network's newsroom staff.

As an independently owned digital news organization, Shore News Network is committed to original reporting, public safety journalism, government accountability, local community coverage, and breaking news throughout New Jersey and surrounding regions. Stories published under the Staff Report byline reflect the collective experience and editorial judgment of the Shore News Network newsroom.

Readers who have corrections, additional information, or news tips related to a Staff Report article are encouraged to contact the newsroom at news@shorenewsnetwork.com. Shore News Network welcomes factual corrections and updates as part of its commitment to accurate, transparent journalism.