The Essex County Prosecutor’s Office recently announced a murder and carjacking that occurred on the night of Sunday, December 15, at the Mall at Short Hills in Millburn, New Jersey.
As a 30-year-old man and his wife proceeded to their car on the third level of the parking deck located near the Nordstrom department store at approximately 9:10 p.m., two men approached the couple. According to authorities, the offenders shot the man, a Hudson county resident, in the head, as he was attempting to enter his 2012 silver Range Rover. His wife, who had just entered the passenger’s side of the vehicle, was left unharmed.
Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn Murray said the two men fled the scene with the stolen vehicle, license plate number U26BVD, proceeding east on Route 24.
At approximately 11:45 p.m. that evening, after being rushed to Morristown Medical Center, the victim was declared deceased. He was later identified by multiple sources as Dustin Friedland, a practicing intellectual property attorney in Hoboken, New Jersey. The sources who identified the victim were unable to disclose any information pertaining to the investigation on the record but they are reportedly law enforcement officials.
Although the Mall at Short Hills is typically closed before 9:00 p.m. on Sundays, stores remain open longer during the holiday season. Crimes of this magnitude are highly uncommon at the upscale shopping destination. However, crimes have been reported over the years, including attempted kidnapping, carjacking, and robbery, in 2009, 2006, and 2002.
A police investigation is ongoing and potential suspects have yet to be identified.
For more information pertaining to this case, access the following article: 30-year-old Hudson County man shot at Short Hills mall dies, authorities say
