Officials Identify Victims of Fatal Newark Fire

The early Friday were all identified Sunday by the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office.

Two young siblings, Javena and Javens Joseph, aged 2 and 3, respectively, along with Angela Williams, 5, Nazir Blackstone, 17, and a 44-year-old man, Shelton Freeman, were all claimed in a blaze believed to have begun at a vacant building adjacent to their Brookdale Avenue home shortly before 2 am.

Previously, officials said that the mother of Nazir and Angela had been in the hospital giving birth to another child when the fire occurred. Anthony Ambrose, a prosecutor’s office spokesman, did not have any additional information about that woman Sunday.

The cause of the fire was still being investigated Sunday, the prosecutor’s office also said.

All the victims resided on the third floor of the building, and all died of smoke inhalation, the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office stated.

“[I] would like to convey my heartfelt sympathy to the victims’ families on the loss of their loved ones,” Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn Murray said in a statement.

Anyone with information is urged to call Newark police at 1-877-NWK-TIPS (695-8477) or the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office at 877-847-7432.