Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray and Newark Police Director Eugene Venable have announced that authorities are investigating two separate fatal shooting incidents in Newark, NJ last night. The first incident occurred in the area of 90 Spruce Street shortly after 2:00 p.m. Newark police officers responded to this area on a report of a shooting. Arriving officers observed an unresponsive male lying outside on the side of an apartment building. The male, who was suffering from apparent gunshot wounds, has been identified as Michael Robinson, Jr., 17, of Newark. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene at 2:24 p.m.
The second incident occurred shortly after 7:00 p.m. in the 300 block of South Ninth Street. Newark officers were dispatched to a shooting in progress at this location. Arriving officers located two males suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. Both victims were rushed to University Hospital, where one of the victims was pronounced dead at 7:34 p.m. Authorities identified the victim as Kareem Z. Scantling, 33, of Newark. The second victim from this location , whose identity is not being released at this time, has been admitted to the hospital in critical condition authorities said.
Both shooting incidents are being investigated by the Essex County Prosecutor's Major Crimes Task Force, which includes detectives from the Newark Police Department, according to Chief Assistant Prosecutor Thomas S. Fennelly of the Prosecutor's Homicide Unit. Both investigations are active and ongoing at this time, according to Fennelly. Anyone with information is asked to contact Task Force detectives at (877) 847-7432 or (973) 621-4586.