The Essex County Prosecutor's Office has taken the lead in the investigation into an apparent shooting that killed a man inside an apartment in Irvington Township Thursday.
According to officials, police were called to the house in the vicinity of 14th Avenue and Grove Street, where they found an unconscious and unresponsive resident identified as Mr. Daquan Smith, 24, before 2:45 p.m.
Smith -a former Newark resident and performing artist- was pronounced dead by medical professionals a short time later, Essex County authorities confirmed. It is not clear if Smith's child was inside the home during the murder.
Some residents in the area say they did not hear gunfire and were surprised to see substantial police activity, then detectives from the prosecutor's office at the house.
Residents speaking to RLS Media say they have complained about criminal activity and active drug sales that haunts several blocks of the Grove Street corridor, but complaints have fallen on deaf ears.
"We have just learned to live with what we have around here because nothing has changed since I moved in 10 years ago," a Grove Street resident said.
"I have never seen the young man around here, but I do send his family condolences," the resident continued.
Family members of Smith arrived and stood behind the police crime scene tape where they held each other while expressing grief and crying hysterically.
The Essex County Prosecutor's Office has not released a motive for the incident at this time.
No arrests reported.