Howard Young Jr., a 22-year-old Black/African American male, was tragically killed on November 25, 2016, in Burlington City, New Jersey. The incident unfolded around 4:45 p.m. on the 100 block of East Federal Street, where Young was found suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was rushed to a nearby hospital but ultimately succumbed to his injuries shortly after his arrival.
An autopsy later determined that the cause of death was a gunshot wound to the back.
The investigation into the homicide led police to identify Darius Bridges, a 27-year-old from Beverly, New Jersey, as the suspect. Bridges was charged with the murder of Young. At the time the warrant for his arrest in connection with the murder was served, Bridges was already being held at the Burlington County Jail on unrelated charges. While authorities identified Bridges as the shooter, a clear motive for the killing was not released to the public. This violent event marked the second fatal shooting on East Federal Street that year, raising concerns within the community.
In January 2018, a jury convicted Darius Bridges of first-degree murder, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and certain persons not to have weapons. Following his conviction, Bridges was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Howard Young Jr. According to the terms of his sentence, he must serve a minimum of 69 years before he can be considered for parole.
