Newark New Jersey police are investigating the shooting death of a man in a local housing project.
According to the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, the fatal shooting occurred at the Stephen Crane Village housing project. The sprawling housing complex is located just off of North 6th Street in Newark’s North Ward.
The shooting happened in broad daylight. The Newark Police Department received a call about gunshots during the afternoon. When police officers arrived at the scene, they found the victim suffering from a gunshot wound.
Police officers canvassed the area and searched between several low-rise buildings in the housing complex. However, police were unable to find the shooter. The search lasted several hours, with police still remaining on the scene after 2 p.m.
Authorities were initially unable to release much information about the victim. A spokeswoman for the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office did confirm that the victim was male. The prosecutor’s office later provided more information: the victim was a 32-year-old man who lived in Newark, NJ.
The Essex County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes and Homicide Task Force is actively investigating the murder. It is unclear if police have identified a suspect in the shooting. At this time, no arrests have been made in the case.
If a suspect is eventually identified and apprehended, they would be subject to severe criminal penalties. As set forth by N.J.S.A. 2C:11-3, murder is a first degree criminal offense. First degree murder is the most serious crime in the New Jersey Criminal Code. A conviction on first degree murder charges could result in life imprisonment, with a minimum sentence of 30 years in NJ State Prison.
According to officials, this was the 25th homicide to occur in Newark so far this year.
To learn more about this case, access the NJ.com article entitled “Man Killed in Broad Daylight Shooting at Newark Housing Project.”
