Man Charged With Endangering Child, Assault After Shooting In Union County: Police

ROSELLE, NJ — An 18-year-old man was arrested after he allegedly shot a man in Roselle on Dec. 13.

The man who was shot then crashed his car into another vehicle after he got in and tried to drive himself to the hospital, Roselle Police Said.

Emerton Joseph, of Roselle, is charged with:

• First-degree criminal attempt
• Third-degree aggravated assault
• Fourth-degree pointing a firearm at a person
• Third-degree endangering the welfare of a child
• Second-degree possession of a weapon for unlawful purpose
• Second-degree aggravated assault
• Third-degree attempted aggravated assault
• Second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon
• Fourth-degree aggravated assault

On Dec. 13 at around 7 p.m., officers responded to a report of shots fired in the 300 block of West 5th Ave. Nearby, they found two cars that had crashed at the intersection of West 3rd Ave. and Locust Street.

The woman who was driving a 2024 Hyundai Kona was taken to the hospital with non-critical injuries. She was the only one in the vehicle.

As officers were securing the scene, they noticed a man and a woman walking away from the site. Je-Nyele Yasir Thomas, 19 of Bayonne, was driving the other vehicle in the crash, a 2007 Chevrolet Equinox. He told officers he was shot and needed medical aid.

He was shot in front of 355 West 5th Ave. and then tried to drive himself to the hospital, authorities said.

Police began to help Yasir Thomas and requested EMS before he was taken to University Hospital in Newark. He suffered internal bleeding after he was shot once in the mid-torso before the bullet left his body.

Yasir Thomas is currently in stable condition, and no other injuries were reported for the two others who were in the Equinox with him during the crash, authorities said.

Multiple other agencies responded, including the Union County SWAT Team, which was activated in an abundance of caution to clear the home.

Detectives were able to identify Joseph as the suspect and entered a warrant for his arrest.

On Dec. 23, Joseph was found driving a 2009 Honda in Roselle. Roselle Detectives and U.S. Marshals approached the vehicle at the intersection of West 6th Avenue and Chestnut Street and conducted what authorities called a "high-risk motor vehicle stop."

Three others were in the car at the time, which also had tinted windows. Joseph was driving and taken into custody without conflict.

The two others in the Honda were released after warrant checks were performed.

Joseph was taken to Union County Jail where he awaits a hearing.

According to Roselle Police, there is no ongoing threat to the community as this appears to be an isolated case.

Anyone with additional information is asked to contact 908-245-9200.

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