Two Newark Men Arrested After Allegedly Shooting at Police During Pursuit

Two Newark men are in custody Sunday night after they stole a van and shot at police during a brief car chase in the city, according to authorities.

The incident started around 7:30 p.m. near Springfield Avenue and South 10th Street, where officers attempted to pull over George S. Jones, 43, and Khaalid S. Fate, 35, who were in a stolen 2001 Dodge Caravan, according to Newark Det. Eugenio Gonzalez, a police spokesman.

He said the duo ignored police and continued traveling east on Springfield Avenue. As officers pursued, "several" gunshots were fired from the van at the officers in the area of Hunterdon Street and 15th Avenue, with one bullet striking the patrol car, according to Gonzalez. The spokesman said the officers were not harmed.

Gonzalez said the two fled from police until the van struck a sign and lost control on Muhammad Ali Avenue, near Bergen Street, which is about 1.2 miles from where the officers initially tried to stop the duo.

Once the men crashed, police arrested the two and found a defaced 9mm handgun loaded with hollow-point bullets in the van, according to Gonzalez.

It's unclear if Jones or Fate was injured.

Roughly an hour after the incident, about eight Newark police officers examined the scene as a flat-bed tow truck loaded the van onto its carrier. It appears the driver struck a sign outside a row of brown townhomes, across the street from the Harold Wilson School and next to Hayes Park West Pool. There were no bystanders outside.

Gonzalez did not say who drove the van or who fired the gun. But, based on the charges, it appears the gunman was Fate. Fate was charged with aggravated assault, eluding, possession of a defaced firearm, possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, possession of hollow-point bullets, possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, receiving stolen property and resisting arrest. Jones was charged with receiving stolen property and resisting arrest.

"As the Newark Police Department continues to take the necessary steps in our city to keep our citizens and visitors safe and out of harm's way, we are making every effort to arrest those who insist on breaking the law," said Newark Police Director Samuel DeMaio in a statement.

Gonzalez did not have information about the duo's bail or if they were in Essex County jail.

— Staff reports