By: Richard L. Smith
”It looked like something out of a movie”-West Ward Residents’
An active investigation is underway after gunfire erupted Tuesday night directly outside Newark Collegiate Academy (old West Ward Boys and Girls Club) in the city’s West Ward, sending three people to the hospital and causing panic inside the school gymnasium.
Here is what I have been able to gather -for this situation- during my 3:30 am start to the news day.
As information comes in from police officials, I’ll fill in the dots.
Preliminary information indicates that just before 9 p.m., police were dispatched to reports of shots fired in the area of 12th Avenue and 13th Avenue along Littleton Avenue, in the immediate vicinity of Newark Collegiate Academy.
When officers arrived, they located a male victim suffering from a gunshot wound to the leg.
A second victim later arrived at the hospital seeking treatment for injuries sustained in the same incident. Shortly afterward, a third victim — identified as a 16-year-old male — also arrived at University Hospital.
Officials said all three victims are in stable condition and suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
The shooting occurred outside the school while a basketball game was taking place inside the gym.
According to witnesses at the scene, the sound of gunfire caused immediate fear and confusion as children, parents, and other spectators quickly took cover.
Individuals inside the gym reportedly ducked beneath bleachers and shielded themselves for safety as the situation took place.
Police secured the scene and taped off the school’s entrance and surrounding area as detectives began gathering evidence.
The gunfire occurred outside the building, but in close proximity to the school during the event.
Authorities have released limited additional details as the investigation remains active and ongoing.
This incident comes within hours of a separate deadly shooting in Newark’s South Ward that left a man in his late 20s dead after sustaining multiple gunshot wounds. That homicide is being investigated by the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office.
Officials say both investigations remain ongoing, and updates will be provided as more information becomes available.