By: Tracie Carter
Law enforcement officials in Passaic County reported that Ferreie Johnson, 28, from Paterson, was sentenced on December 8, 2022, by the Honorable Marybel Mercado- Ramirez, J.S.C., to an aggregate term of 20 years in New Jersey State Prison for the shooting death of Parker Sams on March 31, 2018, in the area of 60 Ellison Street in Paterson.
According to the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office, on March 31, 2018, Johnson became involved in an altercation with another group of individuals at the D’Classico Lounge on Ellison Street in Paterson.
Officials said the altercation continued into the parking lot, where Johnson retrieved a gun from his vehicle and exchanged gunshots across the parking lot with the other group of individuals.
The evidence presented during the trial demonstrated that the victim, Mr. Sams, was an innocent bystander who was struck and killed by a shot fired by Johnson during the exchange.
The State filed a motion for an extended term of imprisonment, granted by Judge Ramirez, who then imposed the 20-year prison sentence.
Johnson must serve 85% of that sentence before parole eligibility pursuant to the No Early Release Act and upon release from prison, he must complete five years of parole supervision.