On Christmas night, three young people were shot in Newark, New Jersey, leaving two dead and one wounded.
According to Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray and Newark Police Director Samuel DeMaio, one girl and one boy, ages 13 and 14, respectively, were shot and killed on the 100 block of Schley Street in the South Ward of Newark at approximately 10 p.m. The third victim was also injured during the incident.
All three of the victims were subsequently taken to University Hospital in Newark, where the young girl was declared deceased at 10:38 p.m. and the young boy shortly thereafter at 10:47 p.m. The third victim is reportedly stable but remains in critical condition.
Authorities believe the shooting was a double homicide and it is currently being investigated by officers from the Newark Police Department as well as officials from the Essex County Prosecutor’s Homicide/Major Crimes Task Force. A motive has yet to be identified but a red Jeep Liberty was reportedly towed from the scene after the incident. Officials have declined to disclose the identities of the juvenile victims.
The investigation is ongoing, but if police identify and arrest one or more suspects, the alleged offender or offenders could be facing multiple homicide charges, attempted murder charges, and weapons offenses.
Homicide, which is governed under N.J.S.A. 2C:11-3, is classified as a crime of the first degree. In most cases, a crime of the first degree is punishable by a period of incarceration ranging from 10 to 20 years in New Jersey State Prison. However, a person convicted of homicide charges is subject to an extended sentence ranging from 30 years to life imprisonment, with a minimum 30-year period of parole ineligibility.
For more information pertaining to this case, access the following article: 2 teens dead, 1 youth wounded in Newark South Ward shooting
