Teen Fatally Shot In East Orange; School District Condemns Violence

EAST ORANGE, NJ — A fatal shooting that took place in East Orange on Monday afternoon claimed the life of a local teen, and has since prompted a message condemning violence from the local public school district.

Officers found the 16-year-old victim on the 100-block of Lincoln Street with multiple gunshot wounds around 3:15 p.m. He was taken to University Hospital in Newark and pronounced dead at 3:45 p.m., according to a statement from the Essex County Prosecutor's Office and the East Orange Police Department.

The shooting took place in a residential neighborhood near multiple schools, ABC New York reported. It was captured on surveillance video, which shows a crowd of students fleeing, apparently as gunshots take place, CBS New York stated.

No arrests have been made as of Tuesday morning, authorities said.

The Essex County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide/Major Crimes Task Force is investigating the fatal shooting. Authorities said anyone with information can contact the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office tips line at 1-877-TIPS-4EC or 1-877-847-7432.

SCHOOL OFFICIAL: 'A GROWING CONCERN ABOUT THE SPREAD OF VIOLENCE'

AbdulSaleem Hasan, superintendent of the East Orange Public School District, released the following message on social media:

“The East Orange School District is committed to the safety and education of all of our students. Critical to this commitment, is open communication and transparency with our families regarding safety issues when they arise. On Oct. 3, between approximately 3:15 and 4 p.m., an incident occurred after school in the vicinity of Lincoln Street and Park Avenue. Please be informed that this matter is being handled by the East Orange Police Department in conjunction with the Essex County Prosecutor's Office.”

Hasan continued:

“There has been a growing concern about the spread of violence, not only in our community, but also across the nation. Violence creates trauma for the people directly involved as well as for those in surrounding neighborhoods and communities. Crisis counselors will be available to speak to students and adults throughout the week beginning Tuesday, Oct. 4. We are committed to working together, supporting each other, and partnering with local officials who work to keep our communities safe every day. I would like to reassure you that our students' safety is, and will always be, the number one priority for the East Orange School District.”

MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBER SPEAK OUT

East Orange Mayor Ted Green and Councilwoman Amy Lewis also issued statements in the wake of the shooting.

"[On Monday], a young man’s life was brazenly cut short by a senseless act of violence that we will never normalize in our city," Green said. "16-year-old Letrell Duncan deserves more."

Green continued:

"Our young people are hurting. And so am I. This shooting has shaken our community to its core, and collectively, we must come together to prioritize and protect our young people. EOPD has increased patrols in our school corridors and we are taking aggressive action to ensure gun violence does not disrupt our community. We need our children to feel safe traveling throughout our city. Anything else is unacceptable. I’ve been tough on crime since day one and I will remain that way — investing in more police officers and getting illegal guns off the street. But we also are investing in positive opportunities for our young people to mitigate the systemic pressures and disparities that put our youth at risk. I express my personal condolences to the family and those impacted by yesterday’s tragedy, and I join our community in mourning this terrible loss."

Lewis expressed similar thoughts after Monday's shooting, which claimed "yet another precious life" in the community.

The councilwoman wrote:

"On behalf of myself and my council colleagues, I want to extend my sincere condolences to the family. Although our East Orange Police Department is working with our East Orange Board of Education to do everything they can to maintain safe corridors for our children, there has to be something else we can do as a community. Our children have to start looking at each other as peers and friends, and certainly not enemies. We all are a part of one another in the sense that if you hurt one, you hurt all. I sincerely pray that we will get to that point without losing so many of our children in the process. I am asking everyone to continuously pray for our community. My hope and prayer are that we continue to love one another."

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