Story by Ethan
On August 14th, 2026, the arrests of Karden R. Ali-Delane (age 21), Javon S. Briggs (age 21), and Ysad E. Sykes (age 24), were announced by New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport. Karden R. Ali-Delane was charged with first-degree Murder, first-degree Conspiracy, second-degree Unlawful Possession of an Assault Firearm, fourth-degree Resisting Arrest by Flight, and other unspecified charges. Kardan R. Ali-Delane was additionally charged alongside Javon S. Briggs and Ysad E. Sykes with second-degree Transporting Firearms into the State for Unlawful Sale or Transfer, and both second and third-degree Conspiracy. The arrest and charges against Karden R. Ali-Delane, Javon S. Briggs, and Ysad E. Sykes were a result of an investigation handled by the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office and the New Jersey State Police.
According to the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office, at approximately 10:42 p.m. on July 12th, 2025, officers from the New Jersey State Police observed Kardan R. Ali-Delane driving a grey Honda Civic before stopping the vehicle, exiting from the driver’s seat, and running down an alley with a rifle-style firearm. The officers also witnessed Javon S. Briggs exit the same alleyway while holding a handgun. Kardan R. Ali-Delane was successfully apprehended while attempting to discard his weapon while fleeing and Javon S. Briggs was later located and detained. The rifle-style firearm seized from Kardan R. Ali-Delane was identified to be a 7.62x39mm caliber Romanian Arms Draco assault pistol. Ballistics testing conducted on the weapon determined that it was one of two firearms used during a homicide shooting earlier the same day. Kardan R. Ali-Delane is alleged to have received it from Ysad E. Sykes after he purchased it previously on June 18th, 2025, in North Carolina. Javon S. Briggs was arrested on March 9th, 2026, in addition to his residence being searched. The search resulted in the recovery of fentanyl, three firearms, two handguns, and an assault firearm. One of the handguns uncovered was a Glock 17 that was determined to have been purchased in the same area in North Carolina in February 2024.
The New Jersey Attorney General’s Office stated that the charges against Kardan R. Ali-Delane, Javon S. Briggs, and Ysad E. Sykes are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
