In the early evening of Friday, December 6, 2019, tragedy struck in Irvington, New Jersey, forever altering the lives of one family. Joseph E. Howard, a 34-year-old man, found his life cut short by an act of violence that left a community searching for answers. The incident unfolded at approximately 6:30 p.m., a time when the day begins to wind down for many, but for Howard, it was a sudden and brutal end.
He was at the intersection of Springfield Avenue and Headley Terrace when he was shot.
Responding to reports of a person shot, Irvington police officers discovered Howard lying in the street, suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. Emergency services were quick to the scene, and he was rushed to University Hospital in Newark in a desperate attempt to save his life. Despite the efforts of medical professionals, his injuries proved too severe, and he was pronounced dead at 7:15 p.m. that same evening.
The Essex County Prosecutor's Office, in conjunction with the Irvington Police Department, immediately launched an investigation into the fatal shooting, designating it a homicide. The investigation by the Prosecutor's Homicide Task Force was described as active and ongoing. Authorities publicly appealed for assistance, urging anyone with information to come forward and contact their tip line. As of the initial reports, no information regarding any suspects or arrests in connection with the shooting was released to the public, leaving a painful void for those who knew and loved Joseph Howard.
