On a cold December evening in Plainfield, New Jersey, the life of a promising young man, 21-year-old Dawud Hicks, was tragically cut short. On December 3, 2013, at approximately 9 p.m., shots rang out in the area of Monroe Avenue and West 3rd Street. Moments later, Hicks was found on the 300 block of Manson Place, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.
He was rushed to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, where he was pronounced dead shortly after his arrival at around 9:30 p.m.
Dawud Hicks was a lifelong resident of Plainfield and a graduate of Plainfield High School. He was known for his athletic prowess as a former state wrestling and football champion. At the time of his death, he was studying to become a Fire Science HVC technician and was a member of the Islamic Dawah Center in Plainfield. His death left his parents, four sisters, and a host of relatives and friends heartbroken.
The investigation into the shooting led authorities to Lavarr Nowell. According to court records, the investigation utilized DNA evidence to connect Nowell to the crime. A handgun was discovered near the scene, hidden inside a pair of gloves. While the gun itself contained DNA from at least two individuals, one of the gloves contained a DNA profile that matched Nowell's. Additionally, a swab of saliva found near the shell casings also matched his DNA.
Nowell was subsequently indicted on charges of first-degree murder, unlawful possession of a weapon, and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose. He was later convicted in connection with the death of Dawud Hicks. The motive for the shooting was not immediately clear, but the conviction brought a measure of closure to a case that had deeply affected the Plainfield community.
