Teen Mom Shot, Left To Die On NJ Roadway Christmas Eve Likely Paralyzed, Officials Say

MORRIS COUNTY, NJ — New details have emerged in the case of an 18-year-old mother who was shot down and left for dead on a Morris County sidewalk on Christmas Eve.

On Dec. 24, 2025, police and EMS assisted a woman with a gunshot wound who was lying on the side of the road at the intersection of Old Boonton Road and Pocono Road in Denville.

The woman, later identified by a GoFundMe as India Heath, 18, of Georgia, was initially discovered by a good Samaritan who called 9-1-1.

The anonymous person, who gave a fake name to the police, reported the shooting but was not present when first responders arrived. The good Samaritan later called the police back to check on the status of Heath.

Heath was rushed to Morristown Medical Center, where she underwent life-saving surgery. According to an affidavit of probable cause, she suffered severe damage to her liver and had a bullet lodged in her spine, and will likely be paralyzed from the waist down.

Heath, unable to speak, wrote down the name of her shooter while in the hospital — “Jovan Clay Young,” police records show.

Heath also wrote down Young’s address, adding that he had threatened to shoot her in the head and bury her body. Additionally, after shooting her, Heath drove her around in a car for hours, passing a hospital three times before dumping her on the side of the road, according to the affidavit.

Young, 37, also from Georgia, was located by police in Boonton on Christmas Day packing his car with luggage. He was searched, and police found a Glock 48 handgun and 30 hollow-point bullets, authorities said.

He was arrested and charged with endangering an injured person, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of hollow-point cartridges, and certain persons not to have weapons or ammunition.

Additional charges are possible but have not been announced at this time.

The relationship between Heath and Young was not disclosed by authorities.

According to a GoFundMe launched by Heath’s loved ones, she is the mother of a 7-month-old child who is back in Georgia. Family members are seeking donations to help with medical and transportation costs to bring her home.

Read More: GoFundMe Launched For Mother, 18, Who Was Shot On NJ Street

The GoFundMe can be found online here and has raised more than $4,000 so far.