Shots Fired In Belleville During Armed Robberies, Arrest Made

Belleville police have arrested a local man in connection with two armed robberies that took place in town on Monday.

According to police, the first robbery took place at Binny Food Store on Belleville Avenue at 1:59 p.m., where four gunshots were fired.

Later that day, another armed robbery took place at Fat House on Washington Avenue. A single shot was fired during this incident, police said.

After a joint investigation between the Belleville Police Department, FBI, Essex County Sheriff’s Office and Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, police executed a search warrant and arrested Trevor Torres, 23, of Belleville, at the corner of Verona and Summer Avenues in Newark.

Police subsequently recovered two weapons, which were sent out for ballistic testing.

One of the firearms – a handgun – was a match for the weapon that was used in both Belleville robberies, police say.

Torres is the sole suspect in the robberies, Belleville Police Captain Daniel Ward told Patch.

Authorities charged Torres with attempted murder, two counts of armed robbery, two counts of possession of a weapon and two counts of possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose.

His bail was set at $850,000.