On a warm evening on June 4, 2022, in Hempstead, New York, the life of 18-year-old Jaden Omaree Johnson, a Black male, was tragically cut short. At approximately 10:10 p.m., gunfire erupted in the vicinity of 77 Terrace Avenue. When Nassau County Police officers arrived at the scene, they discovered a chaotic situation with multiple individuals suffering from gunshot wounds. Among them was Jaden, who was gravely injured.
He was rushed to a nearby hospital, but tragically succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at 10:54 p.m.
The shooting, which authorities believe may have been a drive-by, also left three other men wounded. A 23-year-old Hempstead man sustained a gunshot wound to the ankle, a 35-year-old man from Westbury was shot in the leg, and a 31-year-old Hempstead resident was wounded in the thigh. All three were transported to local hospitals and were reported to be in stable condition. In the initial stages of the investigation, the police did not release information about a potential suspect or suspects and appealed to the public for any information that could lead to an arrest.
In the months that followed, the investigation into Jaden's death led to significant developments. On August 17, 2022, Nassau County Police arrested 22-year-old Laron Watts of Uniondale. He was charged with second-degree murder in connection with the fatal shooting. It was later revealed that Watts was Jaden's second-cousin. He pleaded not guilty to the charges. The investigation continued, and on May 17, 2023, a second suspect was taken into custody. Jablee Cohen, 22, of Floral Park, was also charged with second-degree murder for his alleged role in the drive-by shooting that claimed Jaden's life. Cohen was set to be arraigned following his arrest.
