In the late summer of 2016, the life of 22-year-old Kasiem McCaskill was tragically cut short in a burst of violence on a Paterson, New Jersey street. In the early morning hours of Sunday, August 28, 2016, McCaskill was shot multiple times on Carroll Street. He was rushed to St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center, where he succumbed to his injuries the following day. Another 24-year-old man was also wounded in the attack and was hospitalized in critical condition.
A lifelong resident of Paterson, Kasiem was known by the nickname 'Ka Ka' and was a father to a son.
The immediate aftermath of the shooting left a void of information, with police launching an investigation but making no initial arrests. In the days that followed, the city's leadership announced a reward fund in an effort to bring those responsible for McCaskill's death, and other recent homicide victims, to justice. The investigation into the double shooting on Carroll Street remained active and ongoing.
While no specific suspects have been publicly identified or arrested for the murder of Kasiem McCaskill, his death had a significant and lasting impact on the city's gang landscape. His killing reportedly caused a major rift within a local street gang known as the 'Brick Squad.' This fracture led to the formation of two rival factions. One of these new groups, the '100k Enterprise,' adopted its name in honor of McCaskill, who was also known by the moniker '100k.' This gang, and its rivals, have since been the subject of extensive law enforcement investigations into violent crime and drug trafficking in Paterson. Although justice for the specific act of his murder remains elusive in the public record, the violent legacy of Kasiem McCaskill's death continues to reverberate through the city.
