Jaden Omaree Johnson

On the evening of June 4, 2022, gunfire erupted on a street in Hempstead, New York, ending the life of Jaden Omaree Johnson. The 19-year-old Black male was with a group of people in front of 77 Terrace Avenue when the shooting occurred at approximately 10:10 p.m. Nassau County Police officers who responded to the scene found a chaotic situation with four people suffering from gunshot wounds.

Jaden was gravely injured in the attack. He was rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment but succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead shortly after 10:50 p.m. Three other men were also wounded in what police described as a drive-by shooting. A 23-year-old Hempstead man was shot in the ankle, a 35-year-old man from Westbury was hit in the leg, and a 31-year-old Hempstead resident was wounded in the thigh. All three were taken to local hospitals and were listed in stable condition.

In the initial days of the investigation, authorities did not release information on a suspect and asked for the public’s help, providing a Nassau County Crime Stoppers tip line. The first major development in the case came over two months later. On August 17, 2022, police arrested Laron Watts, a 22-year-old from Uniondale, in connection with the shooting. He was charged with second-degree murder. Authorities alleged that Watts had been behind the wheel during the incident.

The investigation continued for several more months, leading to a second arrest. On May 17, 2023, police took Jablee Cohen, 22, of Floral Park, into custody. He was also charged with second-degree murder for his alleged role in the shooting that killed Jaden Johnson. Cohen was scheduled to be arraigned following his arrest. As of May 2023, the case against the two men was proceeding through the court system.