A Halloween gathering near Park Avenue and West Fourth Street in downtown Plainfield turned chaotic Saturday night when gunfire sent costumed partygoers running and left one person injured. Police said the victim's injuries were not believed to be life-threatening, though the shooting remained under active investigation as officers searched for whoever opened fire.
Shots Fired as Crowd Scattered
According to TAPinto Plainfield, an initial emergency radio call reported the shooting on the 100 block of West Fourth Street at around 8:26 p.m. Saturday. One witness told the outlet she heard at least five gunshots and saw people running from what she described as a Halloween party. People were seen fleeing west on Fourth Street, away from the building where the gathering had taken place.
A second witness told the outlet she saw bullets on the ground while leaving the venue. Police later described the gathering as a juvenile party, though the outlet's report did not specify the exact venue or whether the shooting happened inside or outside the building.
Heavy Police Presence, Scene Still Active
By the time a reporter arrived at the scene around 9:06 p.m., Plainfield police officers and police vehicles were stationed throughout the area near Park Avenue and West Fourth Street, with at least one Union County police vehicle also present. Yellow police tape blocked access to two driveways beside the building, and young people — many still in Halloween costumes — had gathered nearby, mainly on Park Avenue. Police remained at the scene as of around 9:35 p.m. when the reporter left, the report noted.
Police confirmed one victim as of Saturday night and said the injuries were not believed to be life-threatening. No suspect, weapon, or motive had been identified, and the outlet's report indicated the incident remained under active investigation.
Part of a Troubling Pattern at Halloween Gatherings
Shootings tied to Halloween parties and crowded gatherings are not unique to Plainfield. In 2017, gunfire at a Halloween party in Edison left two people wounded and sent partygoers in costume scrambling for exits, according to ABC7 New York. Elsewhere, a 17-year-old was hospitalized after a shooting at a Halloween party in the West Point neighborhood, with the suspect still at large, per ABC4. In Mesa, a teen party crasher opened fire on a bouncer outside a Halloween bash, sending guests scattering before an off-duty officer returned fire, according to FOX 10 Phoenix.
Plainfield has seen this kind of violence around the holiday before. A report from nj.com described arrests made in connection with a possible gang-related Halloween night shooting of two Plainfield juveniles. Saturday's incident has not been tied to any specific motive, and no arrests have been announced.
The circumstances of the shooting — including the identity of the victim, the number of people at the gathering, and who was responsible — remain unconfirmed. TAPinto Plainfield noted its report would be updated as additional information becomes available.
