Newark Man Arrested for Allegedly Possessing Pellet, BB Gun

Newark police arrested a 23-year-old city man Wednesday after residents reported hearing gunshots in the area of 198 Fairmount Ave., according to authorities.

The weapon turned out to be a pellet or BB gun, but Kelvin Wortham was charged with illegal possession of a weapon, a convicted felon possessing a weapon and resisting arrest, according to Sgt. Ronald Glover, a police spokesman.

Glover said the incident started shortly before 10 p.m. after the city's ShotSpotter detection system and calls from residents alerted police to "shots fired." He said officers who responded to Fairmount Avenue observed Wortham walking northbound towards 13th Avenue and, as officers approached Wortham, he ran.

During the chase, Wortham discarded the gun, which was recovered by pursuing officers and later determined to be a pellet or BB gun, according to Glover. He said officers managed to catch Wortham as he approached University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, about two blocks away from the Fairmount Avenue location.

"Last night's arrest is a testament to the dedicated efforts demonstrated by our officers on a daily basis in our efforts to prevent and reduce violent crime in our city," said Newark Police Director Samuel Demaio in a statement.

— Staff reports