One arrested, one hunted over Seton Hall party shootings which left student dead, four hurt

Police arrested one man and are seeking a second suspect in the weekend murder of a Seton Hall University student at a party near the New Jersey campus.

Nicholas Welch, 25, was arrested shortly after 9 p.m. at his home just a few houses away from the East Orange apartment building where the shooting erupted early Saturday.

He is charged with the murder of Seton Hall sophomore Jessica Moore, 19, of Virginia, and also faces weapons charges.

Cops are hunting for Marcus Bascus, 19, who also lives in the neighborhood. Police believe Bascus assisted in the murder, possibly supplying the weapon, which is either a .357 or .38 handgun. He also faces murder and weapons charges.

Welch, who has a long history of drug arrests, put up no resistance, police said. Investigators believe he had been hiding out at home since the shooting.

Investigators linked Welch to the crime through forensic evidence, and he was identified by people at the party, police said. He is being held on $2 million bail.

Welch, who had no connection to the school and knew no one at the party, was kicked out after trying to crash it, police said, and retued with a gun.

"He kicked in the front door and opened fire on a room full of innocent college students," said Robert Marino, acting Essex County prosecutor. "He was upset that he'd been thrown out."

Moore was shot in the head and died at the hospital.

Marino said he has informed Moore's family of the arrest. "They are extremely appreciative," he said.


Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ny_crime/2010/09/27/2010-09-27_one_arrest_one_quizzed_over_seton_hall_party_shootings_which_left_one_student_de.html#ixzz10pGCljSj