15-Year-Old Arrested In Fatal National Night Out Shooting

NORTH PLAINFIELD, NJ — A 15-year-old North Plainfield boy was arrested and charged with murder in conenction with the death of a 16-year-old boy, who was fatally shot just a few blocks from North Plainfield's National Night Out event last week, Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson said.

The 15-year old North Plainfield boy was only identified as Q.C. He turned himself into detectives on Friday, Aug. 9 and taken to Middlesex County Juvenile Detention Center.

Q.C. was charged with first-degree murder, second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, and fourth-degree unlawful possession of a weapon.

The shooting victim identified as Altereek Johnson, 16, of Liberty Street in Plainfield was found on the ground with a gunshot wound in the area of Steiner Avenue following a 911 call around 7:24 p.m. on Aug. 6, Robertson said.

The shooting was reportedly near North Plainfield Police's National Night Out event at the municipal building on Somerset Street. The event is celebrated nationally to allow the community to stand together and promote awareness, safety, and neighborhood unity. It also showcases the vital importance of police-community partnership and citizen involvement.

Johnson was treated by North Plainfield EMS before being sent to a nearby hospital where he later died from his injuries., Robertson said.

The cause of death was a single gun-shot wound to the upper torso, according to an autopsy by the New Jersey Northern Regional Medical Examiner's Office.

Anyone with information relating to this shooting or who may have witnessed the shooting, is asked 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.

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