Members of the Plainfield Police Department, responding to the sound of gunshots, were fired upon by a male and one of the Detectives returned fire, which led to the man’s capture and arrest, acting Union County Prosecutor Michael A. Monahan announced Thursday.
The shooter has been identified as Junus Ellison, 28, of North Plainfield.
Based on the preliminary investigation, which remains ongoing, at approximately 10 p.m. on Wednesday, three Plainfield Police Detectives were travelling in a vehicle on the 200 block of Pond Place when they heard the sound of gunshots. The Detectives immediately responded toward the area of the shots.
Immediately upon their arrival in the area of Stanley and West 4th Streets, the Detectives observed Ellison – who was donning all black clothing – turn towards the Detectives, and proceed to fire numerous rounds, from a handgun, into their vehicle. The three Detectives then sprang from the vehicle and took cover as Ellison fled on foot. One of the three gave chase on foot, through yards and parking lots, for several blocks, with Ellison firing at the Detective repeatedly. While being fired upon during the pursuit, the Detective was able to return fire. Neither Ellison nor the Detective was struck.
Shortly thereafter, Ellison was apprehended by other responding officers. A search of one of the yards in Ellison’s path of flight uncovered a handgun with a large capacity magazine. In the area where the Detectives first heard the initial gunshots that precipitated their response, officers discovered a male who had been shot and injured. That individual is currently being treated for his injuries and the investigation into that shooting is ongoing.
Authorities charged Ellison with three counts of first-degree attempted murder of the three Detectives, one count of second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, one count of second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, and one count of fourth-degree possession of a large capacity magazine.
Officials said he is currently being housed in the Union County Jail pending a Pretrial Detention Hearing.
The Prosecutor’s Office’s Shooting Response Team is continuing to investigate this incident with assistance from the Union County Sheriff’s Office Identification Unit and the Union County Police Department Ballistics Unit.
Anyone with information is being urged to contact Prosecutor’s Office Detective David Nechamkin at 908-527-4933. The investigation is being conducted in strict accordance with New Jersey Office of the Attorney General Directive 2006-5 and the July 28, 2015 supplemental directive, which govern all investigations into use of deadly force by law enforcement.
These criminal charges are mere accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.