Press release: February 24 incident at USPS DVD facility in Kearny

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

On February 24, 2019, at approximately 11:57 am, Kearny Police officers responded to the U.S. Postal Service, Dominick V. Daniels Processing and Distribution Center, at 850 Newark Turnpike, on a 911 call reporting that a driver had just run over two people in the parking lot with a car.

Responding officers found a 25-year-old woman and a 26-year-old woman – postal service employees – injured but conscious in the parking lot. The victims reported that a third postal employee hit them with her car following a dispute. One of the victims reported having been run over by the car and the other employee reported having been hit by the car and knocked down. The driver fled the scene in her vehicle prior to police arrival.

Both victims were transported to University Hospital, Newark, by EMS. As of the time of this release, one of the victims has been discharged. The hospital status of the second victim is not yet available.

Kearny Police and U. S. Postal Inspectors began an investigation. At approximately 3:30 pm the same date, the suspect, Lashanda Johnson, 27, of East Orange, was located in East Orange. Johnson was charged with Aggravated Assault in violation of N.J.S. 2C:12-1b; Possession of a Weapon for Unlawful Purpose (vehicle) in violation of N.J.S. 2C:39-4d; Unlawful Possession of a Weapon (vehicle) in violation of N.J.S. 2C:39-5d; Leaving the Scene of a Motor Vehicle Accident Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury in violation of N.J.S. 2C:12-1.1; and several traffic violations.

Ms. Johnson remains in the custody of U.S. Postal Inspectors.

Chief George King credits the U.S. Postal Inspection Service for working cooperatively with the Kearny Police Department to quickly bring closure to this investigation.

The above charges are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty. R.P.C.3.6(b)(6).