2 Men Charged With Murder After Shooting In East Orange

EAST ORANGE, NJ — Authorities have charged two men with murder after a shooting claimed the life of a 31-year-old man earlier this month.

On Friday, authorities announced that Clarence Johnson, 34, and Anthony Hagan, 31, have been charged with murder, conspiracy and weapons offenses in connection with the death of Shawn Watford, 31, of East Orange.

Watford was fatally shot at 1:22 p.m. on April 13 in East Orange, in the area of North Arlington Avenue and Williams Street, according to a joint statement from the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office and the East Orange Police Department.

Emergency responders transported Watford to University Hospital in Newark, where he was pronounced dead at 1:49 p.m.

Johnson remained at large as of Friday. A warrant has been issued for his arrest. Hagan was taken into custody and is currently being held at the Essex County Correctional Facility in Newark, authorities said.

An investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information can contact the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide/Major Crimes Task Force at 1-877-TIPS-4EC or 1-877-847-7432.

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