Malek Shepherd, a 23-year-old from New York City, was killed when a masked group entered a Union Township, New Jersey, Chick-fil-A on the night of April 11, 2026, and opened fire in what authorities believe was a targeted attack. Six others suffered injuries but are expected to survive.
The shooting unfolded around 9 p.m. at the fast-food location on Route 22 near Gelb Avenue, a dense retail corridor. Officers responding to the scene found seven victims inside. One died at the restaurant, while the other six were treated for non-life-threatening injuries, the Union County Prosecutor’s Office said in an update on April 12.
An arrest has been made in the case. Jaheed Fields, 20, of Newark, was taken into custody on May 1, 2026, on Hayes Street in Newark and transported to Essex County Jail, where he is being held pending his next court appearance. Union County Prosecutor William Daniel said: “The brazen nature of this incident, occurring in a crowded restaurant where people should feel safe, was an affront to our citizens and the security they deserve.”
Violence Erupts On Busy Commercial Strip
A massive emergency response descended on the busy strip, where workers from nearby businesses witnessed the chaos in real time. Witness video shows a person in a mask sprinting from the building with a handgun. Other figures are seen scattering across the parking lot. A separate clip shows one of the wounded, conscious and on a stretcher, being treated near an ambulance by EMTs.
Ben Wegner, an employee at Botera Cannabis across the street, said the aftermath was unlike anything he had seen.
A Lyft driver named Martin told ABC7 New York he was finishing a trip nearby when the shooting started and heard more than seven shots. He said he then headed to the Chick-fil-A to grab food, but arrived to find the parking lot ringed with police cruisers.
Employees And Customers Caught In Crossfire
A preliminary review of the evidence indicates the shooting was not random and that the public faces no ongoing threat, investigators say. It remains unclear whether the lone fatality was the intended target or a bystander. The other victims — including employees working the Saturday night shift — are believed to have been bystanders caught in the crossfire.
A man told CBS News New York that his girlfriend works at the restaurant and that a group of men entered and walked directly behind the counter before opening fire. A family member who spoke with CBS News New York said their loved one witnessed an altercation between the gunmen before shots rang out.
The father of one Chick-fil-A employee told reporters his son called him in a panic, describing multiple suspects in masks rushing into the establishment. The father drove to the scene and found what he called “a warzone.”
Governor And Mayor Respond
New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill issued statements on April 12 morning and afternoon as the death toll was confirmed and the investigation expanded. She said she had been briefed by local law enforcement and was in close contact with officials on the ground.
“We now know that the April 11 shooting in Union Township tragically claimed one life and left six others injured,” Sherrill said in her afternoon statement. “Our hearts go out to the victim’s loved ones, and we are hoping for the full recovery of those who were injured.”
Union Township Mayor Patricia Guerra-Frazier called the attack “a painful reminder of the work that remains to ensure the safety of our communities,” adding that “violence has no place in the Township of Union.”
Search For Suspects Continues
The Union County Prosecutor’s Office is leading the investigation and continues to canvass the area for surveillance footage, witness accounts, and any digital traces left by the suspects. Authorities are still working to determine a motive, though early indicators point to a dispute connected to drugs or gangs.
The restaurant sits in a heavily trafficked stretch of Route 22, where many of the workers are young, a fact that has unsettled neighboring businesses whose employees say the violence feels uncomfortably close.
Anyone with information has been asked to contact the Union County Prosecutor’s Office. Anonymous tips can be submitted by phone at 908-654-TIPS (8477) or online at uctip.org. The reward of up to $10,000 via Union County Crime Stoppers remains in place as investigators continue working to determine a full motive and whether additional suspects are sought.