Captain Derek Glenn of the Newark Department of Public Safety reports that police are searching for the suspect(s) responsible for shooting a 20-year-old Newark man this morning.
Pilice said approximately 7:37 a.m., police responded to reports of shots fired in the New Community Housing complex located at 72 Hayes Street.
When officers arrived they learned that that the victim had run across the street to University Hospital to be treated for non-life threatening gunshot wounds.
Police are familiar with the victim, who was arrested on April 14, 2017 for shooting at a resident of the Betty Shabazz Public Housing complex on Morton Street.
The suspect(s) are believed to have fled in a dark-colored vehicle. Detectives have not ruled out the likelihood that this was a retaliatory shooting.
Also, on March 26th, at approximately 3:15 p.m., police responded to a Shot Spotter alert of gunfire in the 100 block of Morton Street.
No one was injured as a result of the shots being fired. Detectives from the Police Division’s Shooting Response Team developed sufficient evidence to determine that the 20-year-old suspect, today’s victim, had been shooting at a resident in the complex.
Detectives were able to secure a warrant for the suspect’s arrest for charges of Aggravated Assault, Possession of a Weapon and Possession of a Weapon for Unlawful Purposes.
A wanted flyer was created and distributed to the media and throughout the department.
On Friday April 14, 2017 foot patrol officers, from the department’s Community Focus Division, were patrolling the Betty Shabazz complex, in response to the recent gunfire, when they recognized the suspect from the flyer and arrested him for the outstanding warrants without incident.
After being arrested on April 14, 2017 the suspect was released from custody on April 28th and the victim of today’s shooting.
“Unfortunately officers encounter this scenario far too often with bail reform,” Captain Glenn said. “Under this policy, individuals who were recently arrested are quickly released and either become crime suspects again or are themselves victims of new crimes.”
Anyone with information about this suspect is urged to call the Department's 24-hour Crime Stopper tip line at 1-877-NWK-TIPS (1-877-695-8477) or 1-877-NWK-GUNS (1-877-695-4867). All anonymous Crime Stopper tips are kept confidential and could result in a reward.