Crime & Safety
Girls Shot At Candlelight Vigil In Newark, Cops Offer $50K Reward
They just wanted to mourn. But instead, 4 girls became the victims of violence themselves at a candlelight vigil in Newark, officials said.
NEWARK, NJ — They just wanted to mourn. But instead, four girls became the victims of violence themselves on Saturday night at a candlelight vigil in Newark, authorities say.
Newark authorities are investigating a shooting that left four female victims injured – one critically – around 9:15 p.m. on Jan. 26 at Bergen Street and Madison Avenue. Officers responded to a Shot Spotter notification, finding the four wounded victims on scene.
Emergency responders transported each victim to University Hospital in Newark for treatment. One victim is reportedly in critical condition; the other three are in stable condition, police stated Sunday.
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No motive has been determined, Newark police said. The shooting remains under investigation.
At the time of the shooting, the victims were reportedly lighting candles at a memorial for two teens who died in a crash nearby on Friday morning near the same intersection, authorities told NBC New York.
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- See related article: Teens In Fatal Newark Crash Were Driving Stolen Car, Prosecutor Says
Newark Mayor Ras Baraka called Saturday’s violence “a cowardly act of hatred that pierced the hearts of all in our community.”
“Our prayers go out to the four victims and their families,” Baraka said. “This is a time for our city and our families to come together, not to turn our pain and anger inward, but to love our community harder and work to bring the shooter to justice.
Baraka said that police are “aggressively investigating this senseless act of violence.”
On Sunday, the Essex County Sheriff’s Crime Stoppers Program offered a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons in connection with the shooting.
People can call the department's 24-hour Crime Stopper tip line at 1-877-NWK-TIPS (1-877-695-8477) or 1-877-NWK-GUNS (1-877-695-4867) to provide any information on the shooting. Anonymous tips may also be made using the Police Division’s website at: www.newarkpd.org or through its smartphone app.
Pix 11 News posted the below video taken at the scene of Saturday’s shooting.
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Photo: Pix 11 News / YouTube
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