Jonathan M. Ortiz
Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the apprehension of JONATHAN M. ORTIZ, of Garfield, NJ, who was previously a fugitive from justice, and an additional charge filed against 20-year-old MIKHI MADDOX ODUM of Garfield, NJ. Both men are in custody and facing several charges each in relation to a shooting that occurred in Garfield, NJ on Tuesday, September 2, 2025. The additional charge and the apprehension of the second defendant are the result of an ongoing investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Chief Matthew Finck, and the Garfield Police Department, under the direction of Chief Joseph Delaney.
As previously reported, on Tuesday, September 2, 2025, at approximately 9:07 a.m., the Garfield Police Department responded to the intersection of Palisade Avenue and Somerset Street following reports of gunfire. Responding officers arrived on scene and discovered evidence of a shooting; however, no victim was located. Detectives from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit were notified, responded to the scene, and launched a joint investigation with the Garfield Police Department. The Bergen County Sheriff’s Office also responded to the scene to assist. During the course of the investigation, detectives determined that seven gunshots were fired in the street between two men who fled the scene immediately after their altercation. Detectives identified MIKHI MADDOX ODUM and JONATHAN M. ORTIZ as the men who discharged firearms during the incident. Both men were charged accordingly, although ORTIZ was not apprehended and remained a fugitive from justice.
On Sunday, September 7, 2025, at approximately 2:30 p.m., JONATHAN M. ORTIZ walked into the Emergency Room of Holy Name Medical Center in Teaneck, NJ seeking treatment for a gunshot wound to the arm. Hospital staff immediately notified the Teaneck Police Department. The Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit and Garfield Police Department were contacted and responded to the hospital. Detectives determined that the wound was from the shooting that occurred in Garfield, NJ on September 2, 2025. ORTIZ was treated for his injury and released from the hospital into police custody. Pursuant to the charges already filed in this matter, ORTIZ was remanded to the Bergen County Jail pending a first appearance in Bergen County Superior Court in Hackensack, NJ.
On Monday, September 8, 2025, in light of the gunshot injury sustained by JONATHAN M. ORTIZ during the altercation in Garfield, NJ, MIKHI MADDOX ODUM was additionally charged with first-degree attempted murder, N.J.S.A. 2C:5-1(a)/2C:11-3a(1). ODUM was served with the latest charge at the Bergen County Jail where he remains in custody pending a detention hearing.
Prosecutor Mark Musella states that all the charges in this case are merely accusations, and that both defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Prosecutor Musella would like to thank the Garfield Police Department and the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance in this investigation. In addition, Prosecutor Musella thanks the Bergen County Regional SWAT Team, Port Authority Police Department, and Teaneck Police Department for their assistance in the apprehension of the defendants.
