North Plainfield, N.J. – Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson, Chief of County Detectives John W. Fodor, North Plainfield Chief of Police William Parenti, and North Plainfield Mayor Michael Giordano Jr. announced the arrest of a 15-year old North Plainfield juvenile, identified as Q.C., for the August 6th murder of 16-year old Altereek Johnson which occurred in the Borough of North Plainfield.
Prosecutor Robertson stated that on Tuesday, August 6, 2019, at approximately 7:24 p.m., a 9-1-1 call was received reporting an unknown male on the ground, possibly hit by a motor vehicle. Upon arrival, North Plainfield police officers located the victim, a 16 year-old male Plainfield resident, with a gunshot wound on the ground, in the area of Steiner Avenue. North Plainfield EMS responded to the scene and performed life-saving measures on the victim. The victim was transported to a nearby hospital and subsequently succumbed to his injuries. The victim was identified as 16 year-old Altereek Johnson of Liberty Street, Plainfield, New Jersey.
Detectives from Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit and the Crime Scene Investigations Unit responded to the scene, along with detectives from the North Plainfield Police Department to conduct an investigation. An autopsy was performed by the New Jersey Northern Regional Medical Examiner’s Office. The cause of death was a single gun-shot wound to the upper torso with the manner being ruled a homicide. Detectives have established a preliminary motive for the shooting which is not being released in order to maintain the integrity of the investigation. Detectives have established that the shooting was an isolated incident and the victim was the intended target.
On Friday, August 9, 2019, defendant Q.C. surrendered to detectives assigned to the investigation at the North Plainfield Police Department. Defendant Q.C. was subsequently transported to the Somerset County Family Court and remanded to the Middlesex County Juvenile Detention Center by the Honorable Robert A. Ballard, J.S.C., who previously authorized an order in support of arrest of juvenile defendant Q.C.; charging him with 1st degree murder, 2nd degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, 2nd degree unlawful possession of a weapon, and 4th degree unlawful possession of a weapon.
Prosecutor Robertson, Chief Fodor, Chief Parenti, and Mayor Giordano request anyone with information relating to this shooting or may have witnessed the shooting, to contact the Somerset County Prosecutors Office Major Crimes Unit at (908) 231-7100, or the North Plainfield Police Department at (908) 769-2937 or via the STOPit app. The STOPit app allows citizens to provide anonymous reports including videos and photos. STOPit can be downloaded to your smart phone for free at the Google Play Store or Apple App Store, access code: SOMERSETNJ. Information can also be provided through the Somerset County Crime Stoppers’ Tip Line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477). All anonymous STOPit reports and Crime Stopper tips will be kept confidential.