Jonathan D. Hagley, a 26-year-old with a history of violent crime, is currently being held in the psychiatric ward of the Bergen County Jail. He is accused of fatally shooting his twin sister, Naomi Hagley, in their family home in Teaneck, New Jersey. The motive behind the killing remains unclear. Upon arriving at the scene, police discovered Naomi with three gunshot wounds. The twins’ father identified the weapon as Hagley’s handgun.
Hagley was apprehended a few blocks away from the crime scene. Police also found his firearm, a Glock 30S with its serial number removed, in the vicinity. This is not Hagley’s first encounter with the law. He now faces charges of murder, weapons possession, and obstruction of justice.
Approximately eight months prior to this incident, Hagley was involved in a shooting in Harlem, New York. According to reports, Hagley was shot twice before chasing two men and firing three rounds in a busy intersection. One of these bullets hit a 37-year-old bystander in the spine. Police found three shell casings at the scene and recovered a gun and an extended magazine on 7th Avenue.
At the time of the Harlem shooting, Hagley was on parole for previous convictions in New Jersey. He was also injured during the incident and required medical attention. He pleaded not guilty to charges of second-degree attempted murder, assault, and other offenses at his Manhattan Supreme Court hearing. Despite a judge setting his bail at $100,000 cash or $300,000 bond, Hagley managed to post the bail and was released.
Eight months after his release, his twin sister Naomi became his alleged next victim. Hagley was scheduled to appear in court in Manhattan on September 9 and in Bergen County on the following day. However, due to medical sedation, his attorney, David Blum, waived the hearing.
New Jersey prosecutors aim to keep Hagley in custody until his trial concludes. He is expected to make another court appearance next week. Hagley’s criminal history extends beyond these recent incidents. In March 2018, he was sentenced to seven years in state prison after pleading guilty to charges of aggravated assault, burglary, and weapons possession. These charges stemmed from an attempted burglary in Garfield, New Jersey, in 2016. While awaiting trial for this crime, Hagley reportedly slashed another inmate’s face with a blade, leading to additional assault charges. Despite appealing his convictions, Hagley remained in prison until his release in November 2022.