Attorney General Jennifer Davenport and the Division of Criminal Justice announced that three men have been charged in connection with the fatal shooting of a man in Paterson, New Jersey, in July 2025. The post Three Men Charged in Connection with Fatal Shooting in Paterson appeared first on New Jersey Office of Attorney General.
What happened
– Jennifer Davenport, Attorney General
Kardan R.
Key details
Ali-Delane, 21, of Elmwood Park, New Jersey, is charged by indictment with first-degree murder, first-degree conspiracy, second-degree unlawful possession of an assault firearm, fourth-degree resisting arrest by flight, and other crimes.
Ali-Delane and co-defendants Javon S.
Briggs, 21, of Paterson, and Ysad E.
Sykes, 24, of Weldon, North Carolina, are charged with second- and third-degree conspiracy and second-degree transporting firearms into the state for unlawful sale or transfer.
Sykes is charged with first-degree strict liability for firearm trafficking violations.
Ali-Delane and Briggs are charged with first-degree robbery and fourth-degree aggravated assault.
Briggs is also charged with drug possession and possession with intent to distribute.
Hilton.
Officers responded and located one male victim with multiple gunshot wounds.
Twenty-four 7.62x39mm rounds, four 9mm rounds, and two unspent 9mm rounds were recovered at the scene of the shooting.
One of the individuals was allegedly holding an AK-47-style gun.
A gray Honda Civic was also seen around the area and captured on an automated license plate reader before and after the shooting.
As alleged, on August 19, 2025, the New Jersey State Police (NJSP) were in Paterson and observed a gray Honda Civic and a male, later identified as Ali-Delane, exit the vehicle with a rifle-style firearm and run down an alley.
NJSP also allegedly observed another male, later identified as Briggs, exit the same alley holding a handgun.
Ali-Delane was apprehended as he allegedly tried to discard his gun and flee.
Briggs was apprehended later.
The rifle-style firearm seized from Ali-Delane was determined to be a 7.62x39mm caliber Romanian Arms Draco assault pistol.
Ballistics testing concluded this firearm was one of the two firearms used during the July 12th homicide.
It was allegedly purchased by Sykes in North Carolina on June 18, 2025, who then allegedly provided it to Ali-Delane.
On March 9, 2026, Briggs was arrested, and his residence was searched.
Law enforcement recovered fentanyl along with three firearms, two handguns, and an assault firearm.
It was determined that one of the handguns, a Glock 17, was purchased in the same area of North Carolina in February 2024.
This case is being prosecuted by Deputy Attorneys General Joseph Giordano and Christina Antonucci.
Murder carries a sentence of 30 years to life and a fine of up to $200,000.
First-degree crimes carry a sentence of 10 to 20 years in state prison and a fine of up to $200,000.
Third-degree charges carry a sentence of three to five years in prison and a fine of up to $15,000.
Fourth-degree offenses carry a sentence of up to 18 months in state prison and a fine of up to $10,000.
The charges and allegations contained in the complaints are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
Delane: John Grey Esq., Denville, New Jersey
Briggs: James Durgana Esq., West Caldwell, New Jersey
Sykes: Rasheedah Terry Esq., Newark, New Jersey
What officials said
TRENTON — Attorney General Jennifer Davenport and the Division of Criminal Justice announced today that three men have been charged in connection with the fatal shooting of a man in Paterson, New Jersey, in July 2025.
Our office has no tolerance for illegally trafficking or possessing firearms in New Jersey,” said Attorney General Davenport.
As alleged in this case, guns purchased out of state were trafficked into New Jersey where they were used to commit acts of violence.
We continue to use every tool available to hold accountable those responsible for illegally bringing weapons into our state and using them for unlawful purposes.
The defendants in this case are charged with bringing firearms into New Jersey in violation of state law,” said DCJ Director Theresa L.
Weapons like those described in the indictment have no place on our streets, and we are working with our law enforcement partners to keep New Jerseyans safe from this kind of violence.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court, at approximately 10:42 p.m. on July 12, 2025, a shooting occurred near 86 Clinton Street in Paterson.
The victim, identified in the indictment as “R.R.,” died at the hospital later that night.
Witnesses said there were 25 to 50 individuals congregating in the park near 86 Clinton Street when shots were fired, and they observed two masked individuals wearing hoodies running through nearby yards before and after the shooting.
Legal note: Charges and allegations are accusations. A defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
Source and attribution: Jersey Alerts reviewed the primary official release from NJ Attorney General and any additional sources identified above. Names, dates, figures, quotations, claims and characterizations remain attributed to their cited source unless Jersey Alerts states that they were independently confirmed.
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