In the autumn of 2021, a burst of violence on a residential street in East Orange, New Jersey, claimed the life of Alfred Cheatham, a 25-year-old male. On the afternoon of November 2nd, police responded to reports of gunfire on Whittlesey Avenue, near the Garden State Parkway. Arriving at the scene just before 3 p.m., they discovered Cheatham mortally wounded from gunshots.
He was pronounced dead at the scene at 2:23 p.m.
Investigators believe Cheatham was the victim of an attempted robbery that turned fatal. According to witness accounts, suspects approached Cheatham in an attempt to steal unspecified items. During the confrontation, shots were fired, leading to his untimely death. The incident marked the third homicide in the city since September of that year where robbery or carjacking was the suspected motive. Just hours before he was killed, Cheatham had posted an inspiring video on TikTok of himself singing along to a gospel song. His social media bio mentioned that he had survived open-heart surgery and was living with a pacemaker.
In the months following the shooting, the Essex County Prosecutor's Office and the Essex County Sheriff's Office have continued to investigate the homicide. No arrests have been made in the case. Authorities have offered a $5,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for Alfred Cheatham's death. As part of their public appeal for assistance, investigators released a photograph of a vehicle that is believed to have been involved in the incident. The investigation remains active as they continue to seek justice for the young man whose life was cut short.
