the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Bogota NJ, Acting Bergen County Prosecutor Dennis Calo announced the arrest of TALEK T. LAWSON (DOB: 7/9/1995; single; construction worker) of 827 Rock Creek Terrace, Englewood, NJ, on charges of Murder, Unlawful Possession Of A Weapon, and Possession Of A Weapon For An Unlawful Purpose; and the arrest of JUSTIN DULA (DOB: 4/21/1998; single; unemployed) of 684 Rock Creek Terrace, Englewood, NJ, on a charge of Aggravated Assault. The arrests are the result of an investigation by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Chief Robert Anzilotti, the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office under the direction of Sheriff Anthony Cureton, the Bogota Police Department under the direction of Chief Daniel Maye, and the Englewood Police Department under the direction of Chief Lawrence Suffern.
On Wednesday, December 12, 2018, the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office received information that a shooting had occurred on Leonia Avenue, in the area of Buddy’s Place bar, in Bogota, NJ. Responding officers and EMS treated Dakota Johnson, who had suffered an apparent gunshot wound. Johnson was transported to Hackensack University Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.
An investigation revealed that, during a fight among numerous individuals, DULA assaulted one individual in an attempt to cause serious bodily injury. During the incident, LAWSON fired a handgun, striking and killing Johnson.
As a result of the investigation, Talek LAWSON was arrested and charged with one count of Murder, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:11-3A(1),(2), a 1st degree crime; Unlawful Possession Of A Weapon, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5B(1), a 2nd degree crime; and Possession Of A Weapon For An Unlawful Purpose, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4A(1), a 2nd degree crime. DULA was arrested and charged with one count of Aggravated Assault, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1B(1), a 2nd degree crime. LAWSON and DULA were remanded to the Bergen County Jail pending a first appearance in Central Judicial Processing Court in Hackensack.
Acting Prosecutor Calo states that the charges are merely accusations and that the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, and would also like to thank the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office, the Bogota Police Department, and the Englewood Police Department for their assistance in this investigation.
