In the North Ward of Newark, New Jersey, on the afternoon of February 1, 2017, Victor A. Brantley, a 26-year-old Black man, was fatally shot. The incident occurred around 4:40 p.m. in the vicinity of Garside Street and Bloomfield Avenue. During the shooting, another man who was in the area sustained non-life-threatening gunshot wounds.
Law enforcement officers in the area witnessed a person fleeing the scene.
An Essex County Sheriff's officer and a Newark police officer discharged their weapons in an attempt to apprehend the individual, but no one was injured by their fire. A short time later, the suspect was discovered hiding in a dumpster near Kearny Street and Broadway, behind a high school.
The suspect was identified as 23-year-old Joan Aguirre of Newark. He was arrested and subsequently charged with murder and unlawful possession of a weapon. Aguirre later pleaded guilty to the amended charge of aggravated manslaughter and unlawful possession of a weapon.
In a plea deal, it was recommended that Aguirre be sentenced to 24 years in New Jersey State Prison. Under the No Early Release Act, he will be required to serve 85 percent of his sentence before becoming eligible for parole. The sentencing was scheduled for January 28, 2019.
