Three Men Shot After Maplewood Car Crash; Suspect Sought

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — Three men were shot following a car crash on Saturday afternoon in Maplewood, police said, and they're seeking a male suspect.

Police say that Saturday, around 3:45 p.m., they received several calls of gunshots on Tiffany Place. Officers found a woman standing near a Honda that had just been damaged in a car accident and was no longer operational.

Officers then found four men nearby, three of whom were injured from non life-threatening gunshot wounds, police said. The men were taken to Rutgers University hospital.

Detectives determined that those three men had fled the Honda after the gunshots were fired.

According to police, the Honda had been traveling east on Tiffany Place when it got into an accident with a dark-colored BMW SUV. A man exited the SUV and began firing at the Honda.

Detectives believe one car had been following the other, police said.

Police said most of the men involved were not willing to talk to police. Police said that one person told them that five people were in the Honda, including an unidentified woman.

Detectives found several 9mm shell casings near the scene. No weapons have been recovered.

Police said that they do not know if the parties knew each other before the accident. They determined that the occupants of the Honda were unaware that they were in Maplewood and did not have a relationship to Maplewood.

"There is no reason to believe any further danger exists in regard to this incident," Chief Jimmy DeVaul said. "There will be an increased police presence in the area."

Contact Detective Lt. Palmerezzi at 973-761-7913 or email mpalmerezzi@twp.maplewood.nj.us
if you have information or video to provide to police.

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