Victims ID'd, Details After 2 Killed, 5 Wounded In Overnight N.J. Shootings In Newark

Two people were killed and five people were wounded in overnight shootings in New Jersey, police said.

The first incident occurred at approximately 8:30 p.m. on Thursday when Newark police officers were dispatched to the 1100 block of South Orange Avenue on reports of multiple people shot, according to Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray and Newark Public Safety Director Anthony F. Ambrose.

Arriving officers located four victims, all of whom were suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. The victims were all rushed to University Hospital, where one of the victims was pronounced dead at 8:40 p.m., according to the ECPO.

The victim was identified as Derron Roane, age 25, of Elizabeth, according to Chief Assistant Prosecutor Thomas S. Fennelly of the prosecutor’s Homicide Unit. The remaining three victims are a 29-year-old male, who is in critical condition, a 35-year-old male and a 15-year-old female. These two victims were treated for non-life threatening injuries, according to Fennelly.

The second incident occurred at approximately 1:30 a.m. on Friday. Newark officers were dispatched to a residence in the 200 block of North 9th Street on reports of a shooting. The arriving officers observed an unresponsive female on the porch of the residence, according to the ECPO.

The woman, who was suffering from apparent gunshot wounds, was pronounced dead at the scene at 1:38 a.m. She has been identified as Virdia Beard, age 37, of Newark, according to Fennelly.

Both incidents are being investigated by the Essex County Prosecutor’s Major Crimes Task Force, which includes detectives from the Newark Police Department. Both investigations are active and ongoing, according to Fennelly

A third shooting happened shortly before 9 p.m. in the 300 block of 6th Avenue West where two male victims suffered non-life threatening injuries after gunfire struck them, according to RLS Media.

“I heard multiple gunshots, and I proceeded to come down the street, and I saw a bunch of squad cars,” one witness, who did not wish to be named, told News12. “I heard that a friend of mine got shot.” Other witnesses said that several vehicles in the area were also damaged by bullets.

We'll have more information as it becomes available.

Photo courtesy of RLS Media