29-year-old man shot and killed in Plainfield had done time for killing

PLAINFIELD — A 29-year-old city man who was shot and killed Friday morning had served time in prison for killing another man in 2005.

The shooting victim Friday was identified as Joshua Hartsfield.

Not much more information was released by the Union County Prosecutor's Office, which said only the shooting happened on the 900 block of Carnegie Avenue.

Hartsfield was sentenced in 2008 to 7 years in prison for the 2005 shooting death of Ashanti S. Robinson on West Third Street. Hartsfield had been charged with murder but was convicted of reckless manslaughter, court records show. He also did time for various drug offenses.

Authorities Friday afternoon had not announced any arrests or whether they had identified any suspects. Other details were not released.

The shooting may be the year's first homicide in this city, which counted four murders last year.

Police ask anyone with information about this shooting to call Homicide Task Force Lt. Michael Rabasca at 908-514-2080 or Sgt. Joe Vandas at 908-358-3048.

To send an anonymous tip for a potential reward, contact Union County Crime Stoppers at 908-654-8477 or text "UCTIP" plus a message to the number 274637.