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Man arrested in NJ Chick-Fil-A mass shooting was on probation for gun charge
By
Michael Sol Warren
Published May 3, 2026
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By
Michael Sol Warren
Published May 3, 2026
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The man accused of killing one person and wounding six others in a mass shooting at a New Jersey Chick-Fil-A was out on probation after being arrested for a weapons offense last year.
Jaheed Fields, a 20-year-old from Newark, was arrested on Friday in connection to the April 11 shooting at the Chick-Fil-A on Route 22 in Union Township.
The shooting left 23-year-old Malek Shepherd of New York City dead and six other people wounded. The motivation for the shooting remains unclear, though authorities have previously said the incident does not appear to be a random act of violence.
Fields was arrested in Newark, authorities said, and is being held at the Essex County Jail. He is charged with one count of murder and six counts of attempted murder, along with weapons charges. He had his first court appearance on Saturday and has his next appearance scheduled in June.
“The brazen nature of this incident, occurring in a crowded restaurant where people should feel safe, was an affront to our citizens and the security they deserve,” Union County Prosecutor William Daniel said in a statement. “This arrest is a testament to the meticulous work and seamless coordination between all of the law enforcement agencies involved, and a reminder that Union County will never tolerate acts of lawlessness that threaten our residents.”
No defense attorney information was available for Fields in the shooting case.
Fields' arrest for the shooting comes months after he was sentenced to a year of probation for illegally possessing a handgun without a permit, according to court records.
Raymond Beam Jr., Fields’ attorney in the weapons case, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Tagged
crime
mass shooting
new jersey
public safety
Michael Sol Warren
Michael Sol Warren covers New Jersey for WNYC and Gothamist, and previously reported on issues around the Garden State for NJ Spotlight News and NJ Advance Media. He can be reached at [email protected].
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