On the evening of July 22, 2021, Steven Zimmerman, a 31-year-old male, was found with a fatal gunshot wound in Hillside, New Jersey. Hillside Police responded to a call at approximately 10 p.m. in the 1400 block of North Broad Street, where they discovered Zimmerman. Despite emergency medical efforts, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
The investigation that followed the shooting was a collaborative effort involving the Union County Homicide Task Force, the Hillside Police Department, the Union County Police Department Ballistics Unit, and the Union County Sheriff's Office Crime Scene Unit. Their joint investigation led to the identification and swift apprehension of a suspect.
Darius Easterling, a 31-year-old from Newark, was arrested in connection with the death of Steven Zimmerman. Easterling was taken into custody at Newark Liberty International Airport shortly after the incident.
Initially, he faced charges of first-degree murder and two second-degree weapons offenses.
Ultimately, Darius Easterling was convicted of second-degree manslaughter. In January 2024, a Union County Superior Court Judge sentenced Easterling to eight years in state prison. Under the terms of his sentence, he is required to serve at least 85 percent of his term before he becomes eligible for parole. Officials expressed hope that the resolution of the legal proceedings would offer some measure of solace to Zimmerman's family and friends.
