Crime & Safety
Cops Probe Double Homicide In Newark; 2 Teens Dead, Prosecutors Say
A police investigation into the fatal shootings continues. No arrests have been made as of Tuesday, authorities said.
NEWARK, NJ — Police continue to probe a double homicide that took place in Newark last week, authorities said Tuesday.
Newark officers responded to the 400-block of Mt. Prospect Avenue at 7:52 p.m. on May 19 after getting a report about gunshots, according to a joint statement from the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office and the Newark Department of Public Safety.
Police found Saeed Jan and Angel Vargas, both 18-year-old Newark residents, wounded at the scene. They were transported to University Hospital, where they succumbed to their injuries; Jan was pronounced dead at 8:32 p.m., and Vargas was pronounced dead at 11:01 p.m.
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The Essex County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide/Major Crimes Task Force, which includes detectives from the Newark Police Department, is investigating the double homicide. No arrests have been made as of Tuesday, authorities said.
Prosecutors said anyone with information can contact the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office tips line at 1-877-TIPS-4EC or 1-877-847-7432.
Find out what's happening in Newarkfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
A GoFundMe campaign for Jan has since raised more than $62,000 from hundreds of donors (see it here). It reads:
“On May 19, 2022, Saeed-Ahmad Jan was taken away from his family in front of his home. Saeed was an 18-year-old Afghan boy, a beloved son, brother, and sole breadwinner for his single mother and five siblings. He was known by his friends and family as a strong, hardworking, and generous young man who wanted to move his family out of Newark. This GoFundMe page is managed by Saeed’s uncle, Mohammed E Hassan, and his cousin Hekmat, and all proceeds will be going towards helping the family relocate, cover funeral costs, and provide assistance to the family now that their breadwinner is no longer with them. Please remember Saeed and his family in your duas. No mother should have to witness the death of her son. Please donate and spread the message to your friends and family. May Allah grant Saeed Jannah and make it easy for the family as they navigate through this difficult moment in their life.”
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