On a cold February evening in Paterson, New Jersey, the life of 22-year-old Stevens Origene was tragically cut short. On Thursday, February 18, 2021, gunshots shattered the evening calm in the area of 21st Avenue and East 21st Street. When police arrived at the scene around 7:30 p.m., they found a Jeep Cherokee riddled with bullets. The vehicle had crashed into a parked car, and behind the wheel was Stevens Origene, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds, including one to the chest.
Emergency services rushed Origene to St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center, but his injuries were too severe, and he was pronounced dead less than an hour after the shooting. A short time later, an 18-year-old man, also from Paterson, arrived at Hackensack University Medical Center by private vehicle with a gunshot wound. He was listed in stable condition.
Authorities believed the two incidents were connected, painting a grim picture of a violent encounter that claimed one young life and injured another.
In the immediate aftermath, the Passaic County Prosecutor's Office and the Paterson Police Department launched an investigation into the shooting. They appealed to the public for any information that could lead to the identification and capture of those responsible. The authorities did not immediately release any information about potential suspects or a motive for the shooting. At the time, the investigation was described as active and ongoing as detectives worked to piece together the events of that fatal evening.
Friends and family mourned the loss of Stevens Origene, a young man whose life was taken in a senseless act of violence. While the initial investigation was active, there have been no subsequent public announcements regarding any arrests or the identification of any suspects in the years that have followed. The case remains a painful and unresolved chapter for his loved ones and the Paterson community, a stark reminder of the devastating impact of gun violence.
