In the late hours of a Monday evening in Paterson, New Jersey, the life of Robert Covington, a 45-year-old Black man, was brought to an abrupt and violent end. On March 9, 2020, at approximately 9:14 p.m., police responded to reports of a shooting at the intersection of Governor and Carroll streets. There, they found Covington lying near the sidewalk, suffering from apparent gunshot wounds.
Known to some as 'Black Rob,' Covington was a lifelong resident of Paterson. Emergency services rushed him to St. Joseph's University Medical Center for treatment, but his injuries proved to be fatal. He was pronounced dead at 9:49 p.m., less than an hour after the shooting.
Covington's death marked the third homicide in the city of Paterson that year.
In the wake of the shooting, the Passaic County Prosecutor's Office and the Paterson Police Detective Bureau launched an investigation into Covington's death. Authorities have appealed to the public for any information that might lead to the apprehension of those responsible for this act of violence. However, there have been no public announcements regarding any arrests or the identification of any suspects in the case. The investigation into the death of Robert Covington remains ongoing.
