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Car Wanted for Newark Shooting Crashes, Burst into Flames; Officers Injured

Newark

A vehicle occupied by several suspects who were wanted for a felony shooting and other criminal activity led police on several pursuits throughout the evening with the final pursuit ending in a crash which caused the suspects' vehicle to burst into flames in Newark.

The incident unfolded early Saturday night when police responded to reports of shots fired in the city's West and South Wards where gunmen, who were occupying a white 2015 Q50 with a New Jersey license plate number **"Z74-GED"** was seen speeding away from both shooting scenes.

A short time after the shootings, officers from the Essex County Sheriff's Department spotted a vehicle -that fit the description- in the area of South Orange Avenue and South 9th Street when they began to follow according to reports.

Sheriff officers attempting to pull the car over were unsuccessful when the driver raced through several Newark streets, touching off in East Orange, Orange then South Orange reports said.

South Orange Police joined the pursuit after the car sped down South Orange Avenue in the Village then back into Newark's Upper West Ward where both departments ended following the vehicle.

The vehicle was observed several other times in the West Ward by Newark Police, but officers were not able to catch up with the car as the "cat and mouse" incident became dangerous according to reports.

In the final event, several police units observed the vehicle speeding in the area of South Orange Avenue and Bergen Street at around 11:45 p.m.

When officers attempted to pull it over, the driver sped away, then crashed at the intersection causing the vehicle to burst into flames.

Three suspects bailed from the vehicle initiating a foot pursuit when officers on foot chased and arrested three suspects.

A search of the vehicle yielded a loaded gun and other evidence inside according to reports.

Several police officers were taken to University Hospital for evaluations.

The investigation is active and ongoing.

Stay with us as an official Newark Police report is expected later in the morning.

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