In the early morning hours of Saturday, March 31, 2018, a night that began inside a Paterson, New Jersey nightclub ended in tragedy in the parking lot outside. Parker Sams, a 22-year-old male from the neighboring town of Garfield, was fatally struck by gunfire in what authorities would later describe as a chaotic exchange of bullets. He was a new father, an innocent bystander whose life was cut short as patrons were leaving the D'Classico nightclub on Ellison Street just before 2 a.m.
The events leading to the fatal shooting reportedly began with an altercation inside the club. This dispute spilled out into the parking area, which was owned by the Paterson Parking Authority. As people were trying to get to their vehicles, a gunfight erupted between two groups of people at opposite ends of the parking lot. It was during this crossfire that Parker Sams was shot. Responding Paterson police officers found him wounded at the scene. He was quickly transported to St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center, but he ultimately succumbed to his injuries.
The investigation into the shooting moved swiftly, and within days, authorities announced an arrest. Ferreie Johnson, a 22-year-old from Paterson, was taken into custody and charged with first-degree murder and two weapons possession offenses. Investigators stated that Johnson was involved in the initial altercation inside the nightclub and had participated in the subsequent shootout that claimed Sams' life. While Johnson was identified and charged, the investigation remained ongoing as authorities sought to identify other individuals involved in the exchange of gunfire. In the aftermath, the D'Classico nightclub faced repercussions, ultimately accepting a three-day suspension of its liquor license for allowing the illegal activity that led to the homicide on the premises.
