In the quiet borough of Paramus, New Jersey, a life was tragically cut short in the final days of November 2019. Faith Youngling, an 18-year-old woman, was found in the basement of a residence on Pleasant Avenue, having succumbed to a fatal gunshot wound. The incident, which occurred on Saturday, November 30, 2019, sent ripples of shock and grief through the community.
An autopsy would later conclude that the injuries sustained by Youngling were self-inflicted.
The investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death swiftly led to an arrest. Kenneth F. Pinte, a 21-year-old resident of Paramus, was taken into custody. It was revealed that Pinte had illegally purchased and recklessly provided the shotgun that resulted in Faith's death. While the medical examiner determined the wound to be self-inflicted, law enforcement officials suggested the discharge may have been accidental. Responders at the scene indicated that Youngling was seated on the edge of a bed when the shotgun blast ended her life instantly.
In the wake of the tragedy, Kenneth F. Pinte faced serious legal consequences. The Bergen County Prosecutor's Office announced charges against him that included reckless manslaughter, hindering apprehension, and the unlawful purchase of a firearm. The community was left to mourn the loss of a young woman, remembered by those who knew her as a beautiful and caring soul who was always there for her friends. Faith had attended Cliffside Park High School and had more recently been living with her father in West New York.
