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Second Suspect, James Gilford, Wanted in Connection to Fatal Shooting in Linden Arrested in Newark

Linden New Jersey

A second suspect in a fatal late-night shooting that took place on Thursday, June 25, in Linden, was arrested yesterday in Newark, acting Union County Prosecutor Grace H. Park announced this evening.

James Gilford, who also goes by the alias “Baby James”, was arrested without incident by the Newark Police Department. He was subsequently transported to the Union County Jail where he is currently being housed. Fellow defendant Aziz Howard had been arrested in Carteret on July 2, 2015 by members of the Union County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide Task Force. Bail for each defendant is two million dollars.

According to Park, at approximately 11:20 p.m. on June 25, 2015, Linden Police Department patrol units -- responding to a report of shots being fired -- arrived at a second-floor apartment unit in the 300 block of Price Street to find 37-year-old James Garner suffering from fatal gunshot wounds.  Mr. Garner was transported to a local hospital, where he was subsequently pronounced dead.

Following a non-stop investigation by members of the Union County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide Task Force and supported by members of the Linden Police Department, probable cause was developed and on July 1, 2015, the Honorable Judge William Daniel of the Union County Superior Court signed complaint and arrest warrants for Aziz Howard and James Gilford, charging each with first-degree murder and second-degree weapons offenses. 

Anyone with information about the death of Mr. Garner is being urged to contact Union County Homicide Task Force Detective Sergeant Kevin Grimmer at (908) 447-3777 or Union County Homicide Task Force Detective William Bizub at (908) 418-2817.

Related story: https://www.rlsmedia.com/article/elizabeth-carteret-men-charged-linden-homicide

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