By: Richard L. Smith
Newark police are calling for public assistance in identifying a group of suspects involved in a recent armed robbery.
The incident occurred on Thursday, February 15, at around 3:10 p.m., targeting a business located in the 900 block of 18th Avenue.
According to reports, five masked males, each armed with handguns, stormed into the establishment.
During the robbery, one victim was forced face down, with a gun held to the back of his head as a suspect rifled through his pockets.
Another victim was held at gunpoint in the building's lobby.
Adding to the turmoil, police said an employee of the business was struck with a handgun by one of the assailants.
This victim was later transported to University Hospital and is currently in stable condition.
The group of suspects managed to escape, heading westbound on 18th Avenue, with stolen cash and personal property.
Detectives are now intensively working on the case and are seeking help from the public to identify the perpetrators as swiftly as possible.
Director Fragé strongly encourages anyone with information about the identity of these suspects to contact the Police Division's 24-hour Crime Stopper tip line at 1-877-NWK-TIPS (1-877-695-8477).
The department assures that all tips received through Crime Stoppers will be kept confidential and could potentially lead to a reward.