Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of 35-year-old TAHJEE H. GOODWIN of Newark, NJ on charges stemming from a shooting investigation that has resulted in multiple arrests. This most recent arrest is the latest during a year-long investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Chief Matthew Finck, and the Hackensack Police Department, under the direction of Chief Michael Antista.
As previously reported, on Tuesday, June 25, 2024, the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office and the Hackensack Police Department were alerted to a shooting that occurred in the area of Newman Street in Hackensack. The Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Investigations Squad was notified, responded to the scene, and initiated a joint investigation with the Hackensack Police Department. Preliminary investigation revealed that a drive-by shooting took place the day prior at approximately 6:10 p.m. At that time, a large group of people were gathered on Newman Street when two vehicles drove up and opened fire. A nearby parked car was struck during the gunfire, but no injuries were reported.
During the lengthy investigation that followed, detectives identified the two vehicles involved in the drive-by shooting, determining that one of the suspect vehicles was registered to QUAYYAN R. HORTON, while the second vehicle was registered to an associate of CHARLES E. KIRKLAND. Ultimately, the investigation revealed that QUAYYAN R. HORTON, CHARLES E. KIRKLAND, NAFEE A. HORTON, and HAKEEM J. JONES were four of five individuals responsible for the shooting.
Accordingly, on Friday, February 14, 2025, QUAYYAN R. HORTON, CHARLES E. KIRKLAND, and NAFEE A. HORTON were located and arrested by detectives from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Investigations Squad and the Hackensack Police Department at three separate residences in Jersey City and Newark, NJ. All three men were taken into custody and lodged in the Bergen County Jail where they remain detained pending further action by the Court. Additionally, on Wednesday, February 19, 2025, HAKEEM J. JONES, who was already incarcerated in the Essex County Jail on an unrelated matter, was served with charges related to this investigation, and he also remains in custody.
However, over the last four months, detectives continued the investigation. As a result, investigators identified TAHJEE H. GOODWIN as the fifth suspect involved in this shooting. On Friday, June 27, 2025, with the assistance of the Division of Parole of the New Jersey State Parole Board, TAHJEE H. GOODWIN was located and arrested without incident in Newark, NJ by detectives from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Investigations Squad.
GOODWIN was charged with first-degree attempted murder, N.J.S.A. 2C:5-1a(1)/2C:11-3a(1); first-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5b(1)/N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5j; second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5b(1); second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4a(1); second-degree certain person not to have any firearms, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-7b(1); third-degree criminal mischief, N.J.S.A. 2C:17-3a(1); and fourth-degree aggravated assault, N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1b(4). GOODWIN was remanded to the Bergen County Jail pending a first appearance in Bergen County Superior Court in Hackensack, NJ.
Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella states that all charges in this case are merely accusations, and that all of the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Prosecutor Musella thanks the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office and Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office for their assistance and coordination in this matter. Moreover, Prosecutor Musella thanks and recognizes the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office, Hackensack Police Department, the Division of Parole of the New Jersey State Parole Board, and the Newark Police Department for their assistance with the investigation and apprehension of the various defendants.
