NORTH PLAINFIELD, NJ – Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson, Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Chief of County Detectives John W. Fodor and North Plainfield Chief of Police William G. Parenti announced that Crime Stoppers of Somerset County, Inc. is offering a reward of up to $5,000.00 for information leading to the identification and arrest of the individual(s) responsible for the homicides of Christian Orellana, age 31, West 4th Street, Plainfield, New Jersey, and Steven Jimenez, age 14, West 4th Street, Plainfield, New Jersey which occurred on Friday, August 13, 2021 in North Plainfield, New Jersey.
Prosecutor Robertson stated that on Sunday, August 15, 2021 the New Jersey Northern Regional Medical Examiners performed a post-mortem examination on the two homicide victims. Authorities have identified the victims as Christian Orellana, age 31, West 4th Street, Plainfield, New Jersey, and Steven Jimenez, age 14, West 4th Street, Plainfield, New Jersey. Christian Orellana and Steven Jimenez both resided together. All three shooting victims are related (cousins). The Medical Examiner has classified both deaths as a homicide. The third shooting victim remains in critical condition at an undisclosed trauma center.
Prosecutor Robertson stated that on Friday, August 13, 2021 at 8:06 p.m. North Plainfield Police responded to a 9-1-1 call reporting multiple shooting victims at the Malcolm Gardens Apartment Complex on Little Place, North Plainfield, New Jersey. Responding North Plainfield Patrol Officers encountered three (3) male shooting victims and immediately initiated life saving measures and requested for emergency personnel and medevac assets while securing the crime scene. Emergency medical personnel from North Plainfield Fire Department Emergency Medical Services, Medic 1 from Atlantic Health Care, and the New Jersey State Police North Star Medevac all responded to provided critical life saving measures and triage the scene.
Prosecutor Robertson stated that one male shooting victim, Steven Jimenez, age 14, was pronounced deceased at the scene; one male shooting victim, Christian Orellana, age 31, was transported via ambulance to an undisclosed trauma center and pronounced deceased; and the third male shooting victim, age 28, was medevac to an undisclosed trauma center where he underwent emergency surgery for multiple gunshot wounds.
Prosecutor Robertson stated that detectives from the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit, the Crime Scene Investigations Unit, the North Plainfield Police Department, and Investigators for the New Jersey Northern Regional Medical Examiner’s Office responded to conduct the investigation which remains on-going.
Prosecutor Robertson stated that the investigation has revealed that all three victims were outside on a first floor patio area of the apartment in which one of the male victims resided. The assailant(s) confronted the victims as they were outside and fired multiple rounds within close proximity of the victims, striking all three male victims. Detectives are attempting to establish a motive and a description of the assailant(s).
Prosecutor Robertson, Chief Fodor and Chief Parenti request anyone with information relating to the homicide/shooting investigation to contact the Somerset County Prosecutors Office (908) 231-7100 or the North Plainfield Police Department at (908) 769-2937 or via the STOPit app. The STOPit app allows citizens to provide anonymous reports including videos and photos. STOPit can be downloaded to your smart phone for free at the Google Play Store or Apple App Store, access code: SOMERSETNJ. Information can also be provided through the Somerset County Crime Stoppers’ Tip Line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477). All anonymous STOPit reports and Crime Stopper tips will be kept confidential.