A 27-year-old Paterson man has died after a shooting on Wednesday afternoon, October 21, in Paterson, New Jersey, prompting a homicide investigation by the Paterson Police Department and the Passaic County Prosecutor's Office, according to a statement from Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes and Paterson Police Officer-in-Charge Patrick Murray, as reported by Englebrook Independent News and by a second report citing the same prosecutor and police account.

Source: Englebrook Independent News

Officers were dispatched at approximately 4:58 p.m. to the area of Butler Street and Sparrow Street after a report of gunfire, the prosecutor's office said. The victim had sustained a gunshot wound to the chest.

While officers were responding, dispatchers advised them the wounded man had already been taken from the scene in a private vehicle to Saint Joseph's University Medical Center in Paterson, the prosecutor's office said. He was pronounced dead at the hospital despite treatment efforts.

Victim not yet identified, no arrest announced

Authorities have not publicly identified the victim and have not released additional information about the circumstances leading up to the shooting, according to the reports. The prosecutor's office has not said whether the man was shot exactly at the Butler and Sparrow intersection or nearby, how many shots were fired, or what preceded the gunfire.

As of Thursday, officials had not identified a suspect, announced an arrest, or disclosed a possible motive, and had not said whether investigators believe the shooting was targeted or whether other people were involved.

Police appeal for information

The Passaic County Prosecutor's Office asked anyone with information to contact its tips line at 1-877-370-PCPO, email tips@passaiccountynj.org, or submit a tip through its online portal. The Paterson Police Detective Bureau can be reached at 973-321-1120. The investigation remains active.