Authorities are investigating separate shootings that left two men dead and a third seriously injured in Elizabeth Thursday night, acting Union County Prosecutor Grace H. Park announced Friday.
Authorities said, the first incident took place at approximately 9:50 p.m. Thursday, when Elizabeth Police Department patrol units rushed to the area of South Park and 6th streets in Elizabeth on a report of gunfire to find 28-year-old Jamil Payne suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Payne was pronounced dead at the scene.
According to Authorities, at approximately 10:50 p.m. Thursday, police received a second report of shots being fired, and officers responded to the 300 block of Clark Place in Elizabeth, where they found 32-year-old Kelvin Nelson suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Nelson was pronounced dead at the scene.
Authorities said, about 10 minutes after that incident, a third report of gunfire was called in and patrol units were dispatched to the area of Jackson Avenue and Julia Street in Elizabeth.
Arriving officers there found a 24-year-old Elizabeth man suffering from multiple gunshot wounds; he was transported to University Hospital in Newark for emergency treatment.
All three shootings remain under intensive joint investigation by the Union County Homicide Task Force and the Elizabeth Police Department.
A fatal shooting that took place in Elizabeth the night before also remains under investigation.
The shooting victim, who was found deceased in the area of New Point Road and 7th Street, has been identified as Dennis Vega, 28, of Elizabeth.
Anyone with information about the death of Mr. Payne is being urged to contact Michael Rabasca with the Homicide Task Force at 908-514-2080.
Anyone with information about the death of Mr. Nelson is being urged to contact Homicide Task Force Detective Danika Ramos at 908-451-7739.
Anyone with information about the death of Mr. Vega is being urged to contact Homicide Task Force Sgt. Kevin Grimmer at 908-447-3777or Detective Andrew Dellaquila at 973-274-5771.
The Union County Crime Stoppers are offering a reward of up to$10,000 for information leading to an arrest and indictment in any of these shootings; tips can be given anonymously by phone at 908-654-TIPS (8477), via text message by texting “UCTIP” plus a message to 274637 (CRIMES), or online at www.uctip.org.