In the quiet borough of North Plainfield, New Jersey, the evening of August 6, 2019, was shattered by an act of violence that claimed the life of 16-year-old Altereek Johnson. Johnson, a resident of nearby Plainfield, was found lying on the ground in the vicinity of Steiner Avenue with a single gunshot wound to his upper torso. The discovery was made at approximately 7:24 p.m.
following a 9-1-1 call that initially suggested a person might have been struck by a vehicle.
First responders from the North Plainfield Police Department and EMS arrived at the scene to find Johnson grievously wounded. They administered life-saving measures before rushing him to a local hospital, but his injuries proved to be fatal, and he was pronounced dead. An autopsy later confirmed that the cause of death was a single gunshot wound, and the manner of death was ruled a homicide. The tragic event unfolded just a few blocks away from where the community had gathered for a National Night Out event, an annual occasion meant to promote police-community partnerships and neighborhood safety.
Investigators from the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office and the North Plainfield Police Department quickly determined that the shooting was not a random act of violence. They established that Altereek Johnson was the intended target, although a specific motive for the shooting was not publicly disclosed in order to protect the integrity of the ongoing investigation. The investigation moved forward swiftly, and just three days after the fatal shooting, a suspect was identified.
On Friday, August 9, 2019, a 15-year-old male from North Plainfield, identified by the initials Q.C., surrendered to authorities at the North Plainfield Police Department. Due to his age, his full name was not released. The teenager was charged with first-degree murder, second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and other related weapons offenses. Following his surrender, he was taken to the Middlesex County Juvenile Detention Center.
