Man Charged In Death Of Maplewood Teen Will Now Face Hearing Later This Month

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — After Maplewood teen Moussa Fofana was shot to death at a school athletic field the night of June 6, 2021, his mother "will never be the same," she told the media last month.

The 20-year-old Newark man who's been charged with Fofana's murder will face a court hearing on Sept. 22, postponed from this Thursday morning.

The hearing may shed some light on a rumored plea deal that Fofana's mother told the press she heard about for the man charged with her son's death.

In August of 2021, Yohan Hernandez, 20, of Newark was charged with murder, aggravated assault, unlawful possession of a weapon, and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose in the death of Fofana.

Hernandez was originally scheduled to appear before Judge Ronald D. Wigler at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 1.

The Essex County Proscecutor's Office said the hearing has been postponed but would not release any further information.

Maplewood police officers were called to the scene in the area of Underhill Field on Garfield Place in Maplewood at approximately 9:38 p.m. on Sunday, June 6, 2021, where they found Fofana, 18, and another male with gunshot wounds.

Fofana was pronounced dead at the scene. The second teen was treated at an area hospital for a non-life-threatening gunshot wound.

Friends said Fofana and the friend may have been crossing through the field to go watch a boxing match.

Fofana was a soccer player and junior at Columbia High School in Maplewood.

At a rally last summer, when the killer was still at large, Hawa Fofana said, "We’re here today because this beautiful boy has passed on and we have not had justice since. We want justice for this beautiful boy. I walk around the house trying to put this puzzle together. Maplewood, South Orange, I need everybody to put this puzzle [together] for me. This is a puzzle that one parent cannot build."

Essex County has not confirmed or denied the rumored plea deal, but information may come out in court.

Read prior reporting here.