Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrests of 36-year-old QUAYYAN R. HORTON of Jersey City, NJ; 36-year-old CHARLES E. KIRKLAND of Newark, NJ; 33-year-old NAFEE A. HORTON of Newark, NJ; and 30-year-old HAKEEM J. JONES, of East Orange, NJ, on charges stemming from a shooting investigation. The arrests are the result of a months-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.
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 suspect 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.
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 are currently detained pending a future court appearance. Detectives also executed court-authorized search warrants at each of their respective residences with the assistance of the Bergen County Regional SWAT Team and the Hudson County Regional SWAT Team. During the search of QUAYYAN R. HORTON’s residence, an illegal unregistered handgun was located and seized.
As a result of the investigation, QUAYYAN R. HORTON was charged with first-degree attempted murder, N.J.S.A. 2C:5-1a(1)/2C: 11-3a (1); 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 possession of a firearm by a certain person, 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).
As a result of the investigation, CHARLES E. KIRKLAND was charged with first-degree attempted murder, N.J.S.A. 2C:5-1a(1)/2C: 11-3a (1); 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); 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).
As a result of the investigation, NAFEE A. HORTON was charged with first-degree attempted murder, N.J.S.A. 2C:5-1a(1)/2C: 11-3a (1); 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); 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).
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 of first-degree attempted murder, N.J.S.A. 2C:5-1a(1)/2C: 11-3a (1); 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); 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). JONES remains in custody at the Essex County Jail pending further action by the Bergen County Superior Court in Hackensack, NJ.
The investigation into the identity of the fifth suspect involved in this shooting is ongoing. Anyone with information may contact the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Tips Line at (201) 226-5532. Prosecutor Musella states that the charges are merely accusations, and that the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Prosecutor Musella thanks the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, Hackensack Police Department, and Bergen County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance in this investigation.
