Two Charged In Early Monday Morning Shooting In Phillipsburg

Saturday, July 5, 2025, 9:30 A.M. ET. 2 Minute Read, By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,

PHILLIPSBURG, NJ.- Earlier this week, an 18-year-old Port Murray, New Jersey, man and a 26-year-old Phillipsburg, New Jersey, man were taken into custody and jailed after being charged in connection with shooting multiple times into an occupied house early Monday morning in Phillipsburg, New Jersey.

     According to Acting Warren County Prosecutor Jessica L. Cardone, on Monday, June 30, 2025, just shortly before 2:00 a.m., members of the Phillipsburg Police Department responded to a multi-shot SpotSpotter activation on the 90th Block of Mercer Street in the Town of Phillipsburg. 

Police Officers Find Mercer Street Home Shot 9 Times

     Upon arrival, Police Officers located shell casings at the scene and learned that no individuals were injured in the shooting. During the initial investigation, Responding Police Officers learned that the shooters fled the scene on foot. Police Officers also located a handgun and a vehicle reported stolen from Pennsylvania at the scene. Detectives also discovered that an occupied Mercer Street home was struck nine times by gunfire.

Detectives Identify Two Suspects

     During the ensuing investigation, Detectives were able to identify two of the suspects as Dorien E. Roberts, 18, of Port Murray, New Jersey, and Alfatir T. Kelly, 26, of Phillipsburg, New Jersey, in connection with their roles in the shooting.

     Accordingly, both Roberts and Kelly were located and taken into custody, and were each charged on a complaint warrant with second-degree Conspiracy with the Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose; second-degree Conspiracy with the Unlawful Possession of a Weapon; third-degree Conspiracy to Commit Criminal Mischief; three counts of third-degree Conspiracy to Commit Aggravated Assault for Discharging a Firearm into a Residence Occupied by Three Individuals.

     Following being processed on the charges, Roberts and Kelly were remanded to the Warren County Correctional Center, pending future court proceedings in Warren County Superior Court in Belvidere, New Jersey. The Warren County Prosecutor’s Office has filed a motion with the court to detain Roberts and Kelly pending trial, which is scheduled to be heard next week in Warren County Superior Court.

“The rules of the court require us to include a statement that states: The charges outlined in this publication are merely accusations, and the defendant and or defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt.”