By: Richard L. Smith
The Essex County Prosecutor’s Office is leading the investigation into a shooting that left two individuals dead in Newark’s Central Ward Saturday evening.
Residents in an apartment complex shielded themselves inside their apartments after they heard multiple gun blasts near the intersection of Martin Luther King Boulevard and Spruce Street around 5:15 p.m.
Officers arrived and immediately taped the area off after they found two victims suffering multiple gunshot wounds.
Authorities confirmed one person was pronounced dead at the scene and the other victim was rushed to University Hospital in grave condition.
Hospital officials pronounced the second victim dead a short time later.
Witnesses told authorities that a black 4-door Mercedes pulled up near the intersection with occupants armed with rifles and a handgun. The assailants then began firing toward the victims.
Officials have not immediately confirmed if the victims were the target of the attack at this time.
The intersection is no stranger to Essex County Homicide investigators or Newark Police for deadly shootings or random violence.
The suspects sped away from the scene and remained at large.