Armed Robbery on Ward Place on Thursday

Two Seton Hall students walking south on Ward Place reported being robbed at gunpoint shortly before midnight. South Orange police apprehended two suspects in Newark later that night.

According to a 19-year-old Seton Hall student, the two victims were coming toward Ward Place's intersection with Gardner Avenue when they were approached by two black males around 19 years old, wearing blue or dark-colored fitted baseball caps and hoodies, whom they initially thought they knew. One of the two men then produced a silver handgun, which he put against one student's back. The other was carrying a black bag with straps and instructed them to "Run your pockets," "Give us your valuables," and "Put it in the bag—no IDs or keys," according to the police report.

One student put a $5 bill into the bag, and the other produced two $20 bills and some singles. The suspects then fled on foot north on Ward Place toward South Orange Avenue. The victims headed south and were told that a police car was parked at Ward's intersection with Wilden Place. They related the incident and a description of the thieves to the officer.

In response to the incident, Officer Adrian Acevedo crossed into Newark and searched the area of South Orange Ave. and Dover St. for the suspects. He spotted two young men matching the description headed east on South Orange Avenue near Poe Avenue. He called for backup, and when officers arrived, they approached the suspects near 33 Hazelwood Ave. Both men fled but were apprehended after a brief foot chase. Officers also observed one of them attempting to throw a black bag with straps under a parked car.

Christopher Brown and Tyree Adkins of Sunset Avenue in Newark were subsequently positively ID'd by the victims and transported to South Orange police headquarters for processing.