In the early hours of a Thursday morning in Newark, New Jersey, a life was tragically cut short. Anthony M. Johnson, a 32-year-old man from Irvington, was found in the area of Madison Avenue and Ridgewood Avenue with multiple gunshot wounds. The incident occurred at approximately 12:48 am on March 19, 2020. He was swiftly transported to University Hospital, but his injuries proved to be fatal, and he was pronounced dead at 1:21 a.m.
The investigation into the death of the male victim was
immediately launched by the Essex County Prosecutor's Office Homicide/Major Crimes Task Force, which includes detectives from the Newark Police Department. From the outset, the circumstances surrounding the shooting suggested that it was not a random act of violence, but rather a targeted attack. This led authorities to classify the case as a homicide.
As investigators delved deeper into the case, the narrative of the tragic event began to take shape. The evidence suggested a link to gang-related activities in the area. This connection pointed towards a larger, ongoing issue of gang violence that has troubled the community of Newark. The investigation eventually led to the identification of several suspects.
Ultimately, two individuals, Tyler Shorter and Amir Canty, were charged in connection with the death of Anthony Johnson. Both men were identified as members of the Sex, Money, Murder street gang, which is known to operate in the Bradley Court Housing Complex in Newark. The charges brought against them were severe and included murder in aid of racketeering, conspiracy to commit murder, and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence. The legal proceedings against the two suspects began in late 2023, with the charges they face carrying the potential for mandatory life sentences.
