Gunfire Near Essex County School Caused Lockdown: Officials

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Gunfire near Quitman Street School in Newark injured a 34-year-old man and forced authorities to issue a lockdown order on Tuesday afternoon, officials say.

A Newark Police Department spokeswoman told Patch that the shooting took place at Montgomery and Quitman Streets around 3:10 p.m. Emergency responders transported the injured man to University Hospital with a non-threatening gunshot wound.

“No one else was put in jeopardy during the incident,” the spokeswoman stated.

Newark police are conducting an active investigation, authorities said.

Newark Public Schools District spokeswoman Dreena Whitfield told Patch that administrators wanted to thank Quitman Street School leaders for their “calm and responsible reaction” to the incident, and community members who provided support to our students and school staff during the event.

Whitfield released the following statement about the incident:

“Yesterday afternoon, gunshots were fired in the vicinity of Quitman Street school. The school was immediately placed on lockdown for approximately 10 minutes and subsequently held a modified dismissal schedule. No one was injured in the incident. School leaders are in communication with parents today and are working with Newark Police and Newark Public Schools security to ensure that there is additional police presence during this time.”

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