Montclair Homicide Suspect Arrested in Brooklyn

Statement by Essex County Prosecutor Paula Dow

At around noon today, our multi-state manhunt for the Montclair-Y shooter ended successfully.

Kenneth Duckett, 37, of Orange, was arrested by members of the United States Marshals New York/New Jersey Fugitive Regional Task Force in an apartment building located at 885 Troy Ave., in Brooklyn. Duckett was arrested without incident and taken to a New York Police Department precinct in the Bronx.

Duckett is accused of fatally shooting Monica Paul in front of their 11-year-old daughter at the Montclair YMCA on June 26. At the time, their 4-year-old son was swimming in the Y-pool.
Detectives and members of the U.S. Marshal’s Task Force developed information leading them to the Brooklyn location.

The arrest comes after a 12-day manhunt that covered several states.

Duckett will remain in New York awaiting extradition.

He has been formally charged with murder and weapons offenses. His bail has been set at $1 million. I would like to thank all of our law enforcement partners that worked tirelessly to reach this peaceful resolution to such a horrific act that shook the township of Montclair only days ago.

I would like to thank the detectives from the Essex County Prosecutor’s Homicide Squad, the Montclair Police Department, the U.S. Marshals in New York/New Jersey, and the New York City Police Department.

In particular I would like to personally thank Essex County Prosecutor Detective Susan Bzik- who is detailed to the U.S. Marshals, Newark Police Detective Rasheen Peppers, who is also detailed to the Marshals, Dan Potucek of the U. S. Marshals, Essex County Prosecutor Homicide Squad lead detective Guy Trogani and Montclair Police lead detectives James Milano and Ricky Singleton with this investigation.

Our thoughts and prayers remain with the family of Monica Paul.

Montclair homicide suspect remains at large, and is considered armed and dangerous, Essex Prosecutor says

ESSEX COUNTY — The man who is believed to have shot and killed the estranged mother of his two children at a YMCA in Montclair Thursday remains at large and should be considered armed and dangerous, Essex County Prosecutor Paula T. Dow said today.

At 6:30 Thursday night, Montclair police officers responded to the YMCA Family Center, at Glenridge Avenue in Montclair, on a report of shots fired. Upon arrival, police discovered the body of 31-year-old Monica Paul, who had suffered multiple gunshot wounds. Paul was a resident of Montclair and a member of the YMCA. Her body was discovered at the observation area near the indoor pool.

She is the mother of two children — an 11-year-old girl, who was with her outside the pool and a 4-year-old boy, who was swimming in the pool at the time of the shooting.

The victim was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police are searching for the father of the two children: Kenneth Duckett, 37, of Orange. A vehicle associated with Duckett, a white Jeep, has been recovered in Orange. No suspects have been arrested. Police believe the motive was a domestic dispute and that Duckett had violated a final restraining order for Paul which was issued against him in October 2007.

The investigation is ongoing.

If anyone has any information, immediately contact the Essex County Homicide Squad at (973) 621-4586 or the Montclair Police Department at (973) 744-1234.

Duckett is 37, and is approximately 5’9” tall and weighs 150 lbs. His eyes are brown and his hair is black.

To read extensive coverage of this story from The Star-Ledger, click here.