By: Richard L. Smith
A 16-year-old boy was tragically shot and killed Thursday evening in Newark’s West Ward, authorities confirmed Friday following a shooting near Brookdale Avenue.
At approximately 6:00 p.m. on June 25, the Newark Police Department alerted the city’s Homicide Task Force that two juveniles had been struck by gunfire in the vicinity of 227 Brookdale Avenue.
Both victims were rushed to University Hospital (UMD) for emergency treatment.
According to officials, the teenage male later identified as 16 years old, succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at 9:19 p.m.
A second victim in the shooting, a 17-year-old male, remains hospitalized in critical condition.
This morning, RLS Media first reported that an unspecified person had walked into the hospital with gunshot wounds.
Subsequent reporting has now clarified that the individual is a teenager, linking the earlier hospital report and the Brookdale Avenue incident as part of the same tragic event.
Local school officials have expressed sorrow over the incident involving Newark’s youth.
Community leaders and activists are calling for calm as the city mourns. In a statement, the Newark Public Schools district expressed condolences to the family and vowed to collaborate with law enforcement to support the school community.
The Homicide Task Force continues its investigation and urges anyone with information about the shooting to come forward. 
Tips can be submitted anonymously via the Newark Police Department tip line or Crime Stoppers.