Georgia man charged federally with kidnapping, shooting woman left on roadside in Morris County
DENVILLE TOWNSHIP, N.J. (Morris County) — A Georgia man previously charged in a Christmas Eve shooting in Denville Township is now facing federal kidnapping and weapons charges after authorities say he shot a woman and transported her across state lines without her consent.
Jovan Young, 37, was charged Monday by federal complaint with kidnapping and unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition, U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced. Young appeared in Newark federal court and was ordered detained.
According to federal authorities, on Dec. 24, 2025, Young and the victim were traveling from Georgia to New York when they became involved in a dispute while driving in New York. Investigators allege Young pulled out a gun and shot the victim in the abdomen, leaving her paralyzed.
Authorities said Young then transported the victim from New York to New Jersey against her will, keeping her in the vehicle for several hours before leaving her on the side of the road in Denville, where she was later found by law enforcement.
Local authorities previously reported that shortly before 9:30 p.m. on Dec. 24, police discovered a woman lying on the roadside near the intersection of Old Boonton Road and Pocono Road with a gunshot wound to her abdomen. She was taken to a hospital for treatment. Her identity has not been publicly released.
Investigators determined the victim had been with Young earlier that day. Both are from Georgia but have ties to New Jersey, authorities said.
Young was arrested Dec. 25 in Boonton, where law enforcement recovered a 9mm handgun and multiple magazines loaded with hollow-point ammunition. Federal officials said he was also found with a firearm equipped with a green laser matching the victim’s description of the weapon used in the shooting.
He had previously been charged at the state level with offenses including endangering an injured person, weapons offenses and possession of prohibited ammunition.
The federal kidnapping charge carries a maximum penalty of life in prison, while the firearm charge carries a maximum sentence of 15 years. Both charges may also include substantial fines.
The investigation remains ongoing. Authorities previously credited the Denville Police Department, Boonton Police Department, Morris County Sheriff’s Office and the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office for their roles in the case.
