Newark NJ has been rocked by a violent crime wave that has resulted in seven homicides in less than a week.
The latest killing occurred during the early morning hours in the city’s West Ward. The Newark Police Department received a call about gunshots fired in the area of the 600 block of South 18th Street in Newark, New Jersey.
When police officers arrived at the scene, they found the victim lying on the pavement and suffering from a gunshot wound.
Emergency medical responders later declared the victim dead at the scene.
The Newark Police Department and the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide Unit are actively investigating all of the recent murders, including the West Ward killing. At this time, law enforcement has yet to identify a suspect in the most recent homicide.
If investigators can eventually identify and arrest a suspect in the homicide case, it is likely that the culprit would face charges for first degree murder. As set forth by N.J.S.A. 2C:11-3, murder is the most serious crime in the New Jersey Criminal Code. A conviction for first degree murder could lead to a sentence of life imprisonment in NJ State Prison.
For further information about this case, access the NJ.com article, “Man Shot and Killed in Newark’s 7th Homicide Since Wednesday.”