Update
Acting Prosecutor Carolyn Murray is reporting that Shanae Howard, 24, of Orange and Brandon Brown, 26 of Montclair were found shot and killed in Canterbury Municipal Park in Montclair, N.J. The manner of their deaths was determined to be a Homicide/Suicide by the Regional Medical Examiner.
Shanae Howard sustained multiple gunshot wounds to the head and Brandon Brown sustained a single gunshot wound to the head.
The weapon recovered at the scene by the Montclair Police was determined to be the weapon used in the deaths.
Previous article:
As details from the Montclair shooting deaths that occurred last night in Canterbury Park become public, it is clear that one of the fatalities involved a 26 year old Montclair man, Brandon Brown, and a 24 year old woman, Shanae Q. Howard, 24.
They were found shot to death in Canterbury Park, and a weapon was recovered at the scene. Police report that Howard and Brown were in a romantic relationship. As to who - or why - the gunshots were fired, there is no offical answer as of yet.
Both were pronounced dead at the scene at approximately 10:40 p.m. This incident has been called an “isolated” incident by police.
Some sources are saying it was a murder-suicide but this has not yet been confirmed.
What "an isolated" incident means is that the shooting death was between these two people.
Looking back into the history of the shooting victims, a police arrest for Brandon Brown was discovered from February 2011.
A few years prior, in 2009, this newspaper reported that Brown was arrested for robbery. He was charged with Armed Robbery, Conspiracy to Commit Armed Robbery, Possession of a Weapon, and Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose.
The police blotter also reported another previous arrest.
Police witnessed a heroin deal at the corner of Pine Street and Glenridge Avenue, on January 13. Detectives detained one man, Gabriel Herman, 20, of Verona.
But later on, as part of their investigation, the police arrested Brandon Brown. Brown was arrested and charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance, distribution of a CDS, and distribution within 500 feet of public housing.
And, Brown was reported to be "under the influence" in 2010, when he was found walking naked on Elm Street in Montclair.
Victim Shanae Q. Howard, 24, had just graduated from school and was called a "nice young lady" by distraught relatives.
Updates to follow.
Official Release from Essex County and Montclair Police
Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray and Montclair Police Chief David P. Sabagh announced today that a male and female were found dead in Canterbury Park, a municipal park in Montclair, late last night.
Shortly before 10 p.m. Montclair Police responded to a call of shots fired. When they arrived on the scene they found Shanae Q. Howard, 24, of Orange and Brandon Brown, 26, of Montclair dead. A weapon was found at the scene.
Both were pronounced dead at the scene at approximately 10:40 p.m. The two had a dating relationship.
The preliminary investigation indicates this is an isolated incident. There does not appear to be any threat to the community.
The investigation is active and ongoing. Additional information will be released when it becomes available.
