North Plainfield, N.J. – Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson, Chief of County Detectives John W. Fodor, and North Plainfield Chief of Police William Parenti announced an investigation into a shooting that occurred in the early evening hours in North Plainfield.
Prosecutor Robertson stated that on Tuesday, 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.
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 is scheduled to be performed by the New Jersey Northern Regional Medical Examiner’s Office to determine the cause and manner of death. Detectives are attempting to establish a motive for the shooting. Preliminary investigation has indicated that the shooting is an isolated incident and the victim was the intended target.
Prosecutor Robertson, Chief Fodor and Chief Parenti request anyone with information or witnesses relating to this 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.