By: Richard L. Smith
Police are asking for the public’s help in locating a man wanted for questioning after a shooting in Newark left two people wounded late last month.
According to information released by the Newark Department of Public Safety, authorities are searching for 28-year-old Danny Manuel Valdez Vargas in connection with the June 26, 2026, shooting in the 1000 block of Bergen Street between Harding Terrace and Lehigh Avenue.
At approximately 9:13 p.m., the city’s ShotSpotter gunfire detection system alerted officers to multiple rounds being fired in the area.
Responding officers located one victim suffering from a gunshot wound to the foot and requested emergency medical assistance.
Investigators recovered 16 shell casings from a .40-caliber firearm and 12 shell casings from a 9mm firearm while processing the scene.
During the investigation, officers also learned that a second victim had been struck in the shoulder and was being treated at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center.
The investigation remains active. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Danny Manuel Valdez Vargas is urged to contact the Newark Police Division’s 24-hour Crime Stoppers tip line at 1-877-NWK-TIPS.
Anonymous tips are accepted.