In the early hours of a Tuesday morning, the life of Ralph Dennison Jr., a 24-year-old Black male from Paterson, New Jersey, was abruptly cut short. On April 15, 2014, while walking with headphones in his ears near the intersection of Rosa Parks Boulevard and Hamilton Avenue, he was attacked and shot multiple times. Police responded to alerts of gunfire just after midnight and discovered Dennison lying on the sidewalk. He was rushed to St.
Joseph's Regional Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead from his injuries.
The investigation into Dennison's death revealed he was the intended target of the shooting, an act of violence that sent shockwaves through the community. In the immediate aftermath, law enforcement authorities began their investigation, but no arrests were made. The case remained under investigation as authorities worked to identify the perpetrators and establish a motive for the fatal attack. Years after the incident, there were no significant updates regarding any arrests or the identification of suspects in connection with his murder, highlighting the challenges in bringing closure to his family.
At the time of his death, Dennison was a father to five young children, two girls and three boys, all of whom were under the age of eight. According to his sister, he was making an effort to turn his life around. After serving 18 months in state prison on drug-related charges and being released in November 2013, he had enrolled at Passaic County Community College with the goal of majoring in Business Management. His family and friends were left to mourn the loss of a young man who was attempting to build a better future for himself and his children.
