N. Plainfield Man Charged In Attempted Murder Of Plainfield Cops

PLAINFIELD, NJ — A North Plainfield man was arrested and charged with the attempted murder of three Plainfield Police Detectives, acting Union County Prosecutor Michael A. Monahan announced.

At around 10 p.m. on Wednesday, the three detectives were driving in the area of the 200 block of Pond Place when they heard the sound of gunshots.

The responded to the area of Stanley and West 4th Streets, where they saw Junus Ellison, 28, of North Plainfield – who was wearing all black clothing – turn towards the detectives, and then fired numerous rounds, from a handgun, into their vehicle, Monahan said.

The detectives jumped out of the car to take cover as Ellison fled on foot. One of the officers ran after Ellison through yards and parking lots, for several blocks, with Ellison firing at the detective repeatedly, according to the report.

During the chase, the detective returned fire. Neither Ellison nor the detective were hit, Monahan said.

Shortly after, Ellison was arrested by other responding officers. A search of one of the yards where Ellison ran through turned up a handgun with a large capacity magazine, according to the report.

In the area where the detectives first heard the initial gunshots, officers found a man who had been shot and injured. That man is currently being treated for his injuries and the investigation into that shooting is ongoing.

Ellison has been charged with three counts of first-degree attempted murder of the three detectives, one count of second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, one count of second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, and one count of fourth-degree possession of a large capacity magazine.

He is currently being housed in the Union County Jail pending a Pretrial Detention Hearing.

The Prosecutor’s Office’s Shooting Response Team is continuing to investigate this incident with assistance from the Union County Sheriff’s Office Identification Unit and the Union County Police Department Ballistics Unit. Anyone with information is being urged to contact Prosecutor’s Office Detective David Nechamkin at 908-527-4933.

The investigation is being conducted in strict accordance with New Jersey Office of the Attorney General Directive 2006-5 and the July 28, 2015 supplemental directive, which govern all investigations into use of deadly force by law enforcement.

(Image via Union County Prosecutor's Office: Junus Ellison, 28, of North Plainfield)

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