On a cold evening in Plainfield, New Jersey, on December 1, 2016, the life of 36-year-old Al-Muakhkhir Kearney, a Black male from Newark, was tragically cut short. Shortly before 9:30 p.m. in the 100 block of Netherwood Avenue, Kearney was discovered unresponsive, having sustained a fatal gunshot wound. Emergency responders swiftly transported him to JFK Medical Center in nearby Edison, but sadly, he was pronounced dead about an hour later.
This violent act marked another homicide in a city grappling with ongoing concerns about violent crime.
The investigation into Kearney's death was a collaborative effort, bringing together the Union County Homicide Task Force, the Plainfield Police Division, the Union County Sheriff's Office Crime Scene Unit, and the Union County Police Department Ballistics Unit. Their joint investigation soon pointed to a suspect, 37-year-old Khasim Green of Plainfield. Less than two weeks after the shooting, Green was arrested without incident and faced serious charges for his alleged role in Kearney's death.
Khasim Green was charged with first-degree murder and two related weapons offenses. Following his arrest, a Superior Court Judge set his bail at a substantial $1.5 million, and he was held in the Union County Jail. While an arrest was made, the motive behind the shooting remained under investigation as authorities continued to piece together the events that led to the death of Al-Muakhkhir Kearney. Law enforcement officials urged anyone with further information to come forward to assist in the ongoing case.
