In the late hours of a summer evening, the life of James Fred Garner, a 37-year-old male, was brought to a violent and tragic end. On June 25, 2015, the sound of gunshots pierced the night in a second-floor apartment on the 300 block of East Price Street in Linden, New Jersey. When police responded to the reports, they discovered Garner suffering from gunshot wounds.
He was rushed to a local hospital, but his injuries proved to be fatal, and he was pronounced dead.
The investigation that followed what was described as a robbery gone wrong led authorities to identify two men as the individuals responsible for Garner's death. Warrants were issued for the arrest of 22-year-old James Gilford of Elizabeth and 37-year-old Aziz Howard of Carteret. Howard was apprehended at his home shortly after the warrants were issued. Gilford, also known as 'Baby James,' managed to evade capture for a period of time before he was also taken into custody.
Following their arrests, both James Gilford and Aziz Howard were charged in connection with the fatal shooting. The legal proceedings culminated in both men pleading guilty to aggravated manslaughter. Their pleas acknowledged their roles in the events that led to the untimely death of James Garner. The resolution of the case brought a measure of justice for a life cut short in a senseless act of violence.
