In the early morning hours of Saturday, October 8, 2022, the life of 36-year-old Altariq Johnson, a male resident of Newark, New Jersey, was tragically cut short. Police responded to reports of a shooting on the 100 block of Brenner Street in Newark. Upon arrival, they discovered Johnson suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was rushed to University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 3:42 a.m.
The Essex County Prosecutor's Office Homicide/Major Crimes Task Force, which
includes members of the Newark Police Department, immediately launched an investigation into the fatal shooting. For months, the case remained active and ongoing, with authorities appealing to the public for any information that could lead to an arrest.
A significant development in the case came in March 2023, when the Essex County Prosecutor's Office announced the arrest of a suspect. Vernon Crook, a 49-year-old from Newark, was taken into custody and charged in connection with Johnson's death. Crook faced serious charges, including murder and four weapons offenses: Unlawful Possession of a Weapon, Possession of a Weapon for Unlawful Purpose, Unlawful Possession of a Handgun, and Certain Persons Not To Have Weapons.
