Shooting at Birthday Party in New Jersey Leaves One Dead, Three Injured

A tragic shooting incident in New Jersey has left one person dead and three others injured, including a teenager. This shocking event unfolded near the street where a 13-year-old girl was celebrating her birthday.

Witnesses reported that the chaos erupted in Paterson around 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, just as party attendees were attempting to sing “Happy Birthday” in the backyard.

Sudden gunfire broke out close to the intersection of East 29th Street and 10th Avenue, resulting in children screaming and adults rushing for safety. Initially, kids thought the sounds were fireworks—until they heard the sirens, which sent many into panic as emergency services arrived to assist those caught in the crossfire.

One party attendee described the scene: “It was scary just hearing, seeing and hearing. Especially on birthdays. When you’re trying to hang out with your friends, just get together.” A friend of hers, who witnessed the shooting, recounted, “He was trying to go to the warehouse. He ran back and saw two people come out of a car and fire shots, like automatic weapons.”

Authorities have not disclosed the identities of the deceased or those injured, though they confirmed one of the victims was a teenager. Paterson City Councilor Luis Velez mentioned the area has been troubled by violence but assured residents that measures, including the installation of security cameras, are underway to improve safety.

“As I know, the Paterson Police Department is doing their job and doing a great job of reducing crime,” Councilor Velez remarked. But, he continued, “Neither we the police nor anyone else, not even the news media, have a crystal ball to say this is going to happen right now.” He added that some community members are hesitant to report suspicious activity due to fear, but emphasized that police are trained to handle such situations confidentially, focusing on enhancing the community’s quality of life.