Corrections Officer Kills Suspected Carjacker

Two men were shot and killed Tuesday night, including one who died after exchanging gunfire with an off-duty Essex County Department of Corrections officer during a carjacking attempt, the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office and Newark police said.

The corrections officer, whose name was not released, was approached by an armed, masked man on the 300 block of 7th Avenue around 10:55 pm, authorities said. The two fired at each other, with both sustaining gunshot wounds. 
 
Both were taken to University Hospital where 20-year-old Steven McRae died of his injuries around 11:20 pm. The corrections officer, who had suffered multiple injuries, survived.

A 16-year-old juvenile was also arrested in connection with the incident and charged with carjacking and weapons offenses.
 
About 90 minutes earlier,  at around 9:36 pm, two males and a female were all shot on the 200 block of Schley Street. Tahjee Sanders, a 21-year-old Irvington resident, was pronounced dead shortly after 10 pm.

“The initial investigation indicates that the victims were targeted,” said Chief Assistant Prosecutor Thomas Fennelly, director of the Homicide Unit. “At this time no arrests have been made, but the investigation is active and ongoing.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office tips hotline at 1-877-847-7432