Newark police are investigating an armed robbery of a student on a New Jersey Transit bus in Newark, NJ.
According to law enforcement, the victim was riding on a bus headed west on 16th Avenue in Newark, New Jersey. At some point during the ride, the suspect allegedly pointed a silver handgun at the victim’s head and ordered him to hand over his cell phone.
The victim, who was seated directly in front of the suspect, gave the suspect his phone.
After the suspect got the victim’s phone, a second suspect reportedly went through the victim’s pockets and stole his wallet. The victim later told police that his wallet contained $12 in cash, a credit card, and multiple ID cards.
After allegedly robbing the victim, both suspects got off the bus and fled the scene on foot.
The victim, a 19-year-old male student at Kean University, avoided any serious injuries during the robbery.
The Newark Police Department is actively investigating the theft incident. At this time, police have not yet identified the suspects.
If the suspects are eventually identified and apprehended, they would face severe penalties. As set forth by N.J.S.A. 2C:15-1, anyone who commits a robbery while using a deadly weapon like a handgun or a knife can be charged with a first degree felony. A conviction for first degree armed robbery could lead to a sentence of 10-20 years in New Jersey State Prison.
For additional information about this case, access the NJ.com article entitled “Kean U. Student Robbed at Gunpoint on NJ Transit Bus, Police Reports Say.”