Multiple shootings that rocked an area of the city between South Orange and Madison avenues this morning have left one person dead and another in critical condition, the Essex County Prosecutor’s office said today.
Two men were shot at S. 13th Street and Madison Avenue shortly before 9 am. One man was later pronounced dead at the scene and the second victim was taken to University Hospital, where he is listed in critical condition. Neither victim has yet been identified, the prosecutor’s office said.
Around the same time as the shootings on S. 13th Street, there was also possible gunplay a little more than a mile away, at S. 12th Street near South Orange Avenue. Officers were seen investigating the area this morning.
No information was immediately available about this other incident or whether the two are connected, an ECPO spokesperson told Patch.
Several bystanders milling about this morning near S. 13th Street and Avon Avenue reported hearing an exchange of gunfire. A large number of people were waiting outside a food pantry based at a nearby Baptist church when the shootings occurred.
“I heard it and stepped behind the car. I didn’t want any stray bullets. You hear a lot about that lately,” said one man who would only provide his first name, Kevin.
This morning’s spasm of violence marks the third daytime murder in the city since Tuesday, when two people were killed in separate incidents.
Today’s brazen shootings -- occurring as dozens of people in the area were out on the street, going about the start of their day -- unnerved even city residents all too familiar with the city’s pervasive gun violence.
“I’d like to get out of Newark. I’m trying to live to be 85 or 90 years old,” said one woman, a resident of the area for 10 years who declined to give her name. “All the time I see stuff like this happening.”
“Kids can’t go to school no more. It’s sad,” said Jay Brough, 36, who lives on 11th Street. “You see these corner stores, they’re meant for us to walk in, do our shopping, but you can’t anymore because they’re used by the drug dealers.”
Anyone with information is asked to call 1-877-847-7432.
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