A routine trip to the grocery store on a Monday afternoon tragically turned into the final moments of life for 62-year-old Deborah Burton of Maplewood, a beloved grandmother and mother of four. On March 13, 2017, after dropping off a family member at work, Burton was fatally shot in Newark in the vicinity of 43 Third Street. The incident occurred at approximately 1:45 p.m., and she was pronounced dead at University Hospital shortly thereafter.
Initial reports suggested that Burton was
the victim of a carjacking, as her 2012 Chevy was found a few blocks away from the scene. Her ex-husband, Imam Shakur Abdulrahim, with whom she shared two children, expressed his shock and heartbreak, questioning why anyone would harm such a kind and gentle person. Family members described the harrowing belief that after being shot multiple times in the back, she managed to crawl to the street to cry for help.
As the investigation by the Essex County Prosecutor's Major Crimes Task Force progressed, the theory of a carjacking was called into question. Authorities later stated that there was no evidence to support the initial belief that the motive was to steal her car. The investigation remained active and ongoing, with law enforcement seeking assistance from the public.
Months after the tragic event, authorities released surveillance photos of two women who were considered persons of interest. The women were seen carrying what was believed to be Burton's Coach pocketbook. In the years that followed, the reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction in the case was increased, eventually reaching $20,000, as her family and community continued to seek justice and answers for her senseless murder. Despite these efforts, the case remains a painful and unsolved mystery for her loved ones.
