Newark Teen’s Slaying May Have Started With Family Feud: Report

NEWARK, NJ — The fatal shooting of a 16-year-old Newark teen may be related an ongoing family feud, a report says.

On Wednesday evening, the Newark Public Safety Department announced that four people suffered gunshots during a shooting. Authorities said that a 16-year-old male suffered a fatal gunshot, and another victim “sustained grave injuries.”

A pair of additional victims are “expected to survive” their injuries, police said.

Authorities stated that an investigation is ongoing and declined to release the identity of the teen pending notification of his next of kin.

The incident is Essex County's first fatal shooting of 2017, according to the Essex County Prosecutor's Office.

On Thursday, NJ.com identified the deceased teen as Kevin Barber, a student at East Side High School in Newark.

According to NJ.com, the shooting took place around 5 p.m. at the Newark Housing Authority-run John Hyatt Court complex near Hawkins and Christie streets.

East Ward Councilman Augusto Amador told NJ Advance Media that the shooting apparently stemmed from an ongoing dispute between families.

"From what I understand there was a family feud that started when one of the families moved from the Terrell Homes into Hyatt Court,” Amador said. “And that feud escalated once they moved.”

However the deceased teen’s grandfather, Herbert Waldron, reportedly told NJ.com that he was only interested in justice for his grandson.

“I don't want any more violence… I don't want that," Waldron said.

Read the full report here.