Somerset County officials announced that Crime Stoppers of Somerset County, Inc. is offering a reward of up to $5,000.00 for information leading to the identification and arrest of the individual(s) responsible for the homicides of Christian Orellana, 31, West 4th Street, Plainfield, New Jersey, and Steven Jimenez, 14, West 4th Street, Plainfield which occurred on Friday, August 13, in North Plainfield.
Prosecutor Robertson stated that on Sunday, August 15, the New Jersey Northern Regional Medical Examiners performed a post-mortem examination on the two homicide victims.
Authorities have identified Christian Orellana, 31, West 4th Street, Plainfield and Steven Jimenez, 14, West 4th Street, Plainfield.
Officials said Christian Orellana and Steven Jimenez both resided together. All three shooting victims are related (cousins).
The Medical Examiner has classified both deaths as homicide. The third shooting victim remains in critical condition at an undisclosed trauma center.
Prosecutor Robertson stated that on Friday, August 13, at 8:06 p.m., North Plainfield Police responded to a 9-1-1 call reporting multiple shooting victims at the Malcolm Gardens Apartment Complex on Little Place, North Plainfield.
Responding North Plainfield Patrol Officers encountered three (3) male shooting victims and immediately initiated life-saving measures and requested emergency personnel and medevac assets while securing the crime scene.
Emergency medical personnel from North Plainfield Fire Department Emergency Medical Services, Medic 1 from Atlantic Health Care, and the New Jersey State Police North Star Medevac responded to provide critical life-saving measures and triage the scene.
Prosecutor Robertson stated that one male shooting victim, Steven Jimenez, 14, was pronounced deceased at the scene; one male shooting victim, Christian Orellana, 31, was transported via ambulance to an undisclosed trauma center and pronounced deceased; and the third male shooting victim, 28, was medevac to an undisclosed trauma center where he underwent emergency surgery for multiple gunshot wounds.
Prosecutor Robertson stated that detectives from the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit, the Crime Scene Investigations Unit, the North Plainfield Police Department, and Investigators for the New Jersey Northern Regional Medical Examiner’s Office responded to conduct the investigation, which remains ongoing.
Prosecutor Robertson stated that the investigation has revealed that all three victims were outside on a first-floor patio area of the apartment in which one of the male victims resided.
The assailant(s) confronted the victims outside and fired multiple rounds within proximity of the victims, striking all three male victims.
Detectives are attempting to establish a motive and a description of the assailant(s).
Prosecutor Robertson, Chief Fodor and Chief Parenti request anyone with information relating to the homicide/shooting investigation to contact the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office (908) 231-7100.