On December 27, 2015, gunfire erupted during an illegal after-hours warehouse party on First Avenue in Paterson, New Jersey, attended by more than 200 people. Two men were critically wounded and later died at St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center: 26-year-old Kashif Belfield and 24-year-old Fernando Irby.

Investigators identified and arrested two suspects, Jaquan Harrison and Quincy Franklin, who were initially charged with murder in connection with the shootings. As the case moved through the courts, evidentiary problems led prosecutors to reduce the charges to reckless manslaughter. Both men admitted to firing guns during a fight at the party but said they did not intentionally shoot the victims; they ultimately pleaded to reduced charges and received substantially shorter prison terms than murder convictions would carry.

It was never definitively determined whether Belfield and Irby were targeted or were bystanders struck in the crossfire.