Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes and Paterson Police Chief Troy Oswald announce that based upon an investigation by the Paterson Police Department, in conjunction with the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office, Jonathan Hernandez, 31, from Paterson, has been identified as the individual wanted in connection to the September 2nd shooting that took place on 12th Avenue in the City of Paterson.
Police say Mr. Hernandez has been charged as a fugitive with two counts of Murder, first degree; two counts of Attempted Murder, first degree; four counts of Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose, second degree; Unlawful Possession of a Weapon, second degree; Certain Persons not to Have Weapons, second degree; and Criminal Mischief, third degree.
According to police, on September 2, 2018, at approximately 11:18 p.m., police officers responded to the area of 43 12th Avenue in the City of Paterson in response to reports of a shooting.
Upon their arrival they were directed to a BMW which had come to rest in the area of East 18th Street and Broadway.
Police say inside the vehicle the officers discovered four shooting victims, Jason Parker, 30, Paterson who suffered non-life threatening injuries; Daryl Tann, 48, Paterson who was pronounced deceased upon his arrival at St. Joseph’s University Medical Center; Latoya Lesane, 32, who was critically injured, and Nykeema Kersey, 33, Paterson who was pronounced deceased at the scene.
During the investigation, it was determined that the victims were seated in their vehicle on 12th Avenue where the shooting took place, and then drove off until their vehicle became disabled near East 18th Street and Broadway as a result of damage sustained from the shooting according to police.
Hernandez is the former boyfriend of Lesane, and prior to the shooting on September 2nd he damaged Lesane’s vehicle with a baseball bat.
Police say later that evening, after vandalizing Lesane’s car, Hernandez approached the four shooting victims outside the Elks Lodge on Ellison Street and engaged them in a physical altercation.
Approximately an hour after the fight at the Elks Lodge, police say Hernandez approached the victims’ vehicle on foot as it was parked on 12th Avenue and opened fire on the vehicle.
Hernandez should be considered armed and dangerous.
A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. Despite this accusation, defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office asks anyone with additional information about this incident or information as to the whereabouts of Jonathan Hernandez to contact us on our tips line at 1-877-370-PCPO or tips@passaiccountynj.org or contact the Paterson Police Detective Bureau at 973-321-1120.