In the afternoon hours of a Friday in Plainfield, New Jersey, the life of a young man was tragically cut short in a burst of gunfire. Anthony Bowles, a 24-year-old Black male, was on Evona Avenue near West Third Street on November 6, 2015, when a car carrying three men approached. Around 2:30 p.m., chaos erupted as shots were fired from the vehicle, striking Bowles and two unintended targets, a 33-year-old woman and a 6-year-old girl who was simply playing outside.
Emergency services
rushed to the scene, a neighborhood known to have issues with gang activity. Bowles was transported to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, but his injuries proved to be fatal, and he was pronounced dead. The woman and the young girl were also wounded in the brazen daylight shooting. The child sustained a gunshot wound to her leg, an injury that was serious but not life-threatening. The woman was treated for minor injuries at the scene. The indiscriminate nature of the shooting sent shockwaves through the community, leaving residents fearful and demanding justice.
The investigation into the homicide was swift, with law enforcement identifying a suspect within a few weeks. Jordan Robinson, a 25-year-old from the nearby town of Edison, was apprehended and taken into custody. As the legal process unfolded, Robinson eventually pleaded guilty to a charge of aggravated manslaughter for his role in the fatal shooting. In August 2019, he was sentenced to 23 years in state prison. Under the terms of his sentence, as mandated by New Jersey's No Early Release Act, he will be required to serve at least 85% of his term before being eligible for parole.
Despite Robinson's conviction, authorities have indicated that the investigation remains open. It is believed that other individuals were involved in the drive-by shooting that claimed the life of Anthony Bowles and injured two others. The Union County Prosecutor's Office has continued to appeal to the public for any information that could lead to the arrest and indictment of the other suspects who are still at large. A reward of up to $10,000 has been offered by the Union County Crime Stoppers for information that brings the remaining perpetrators to justice, a clear sign that the quest for full accountability in the death of Anthony Bowles is not yet over.
