In a tragic turn of events on the evening of August 16, 2014, Dearn Marcano, a 20-year-old Black male, was fatally shot in Plainfield, New Jersey. Marcano, who had moved to the United States from Trinidad and Tobago with his mother, was working two jobs with the dream of buying a house for his family. He was not believed to have any involvement in gang activities.
The shooting occurred around 9 p.m. in the vicinity of West Third Street and Manson Place.
Authorities reported that a group of men dressed in dark clothing exited a vehicle and fired more than a dozen shots. Marcano was found at the scene and was pronounced dead shortly after 10 p.m. Three other Plainfield residents were also injured in the shootout and were transported to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick with non-life-threatening injuries.
The incident was Plainfield's first homicide of the year and sparked outrage within the community, leading to a march and a public forum attended by city and county officials. The Union County Prosecutor's Office and the Plainfield Police Division launched a joint investigation into the shooting. Investigators have not publicly identified any suspects in the case. A reward of up to $5,000 was initially offered for information leading to an arrest and indictment, which was later increased to $20,000. Despite the ongoing investigation and the reward offered, no arrests have been announced in connection with the death of Dearn Marcano. His mother, Gursha Marcano-Brown, has expressed profound grief over the loss of her son, who was dedicated to his family and their future.
