Man Slain In Latest Newark Shooting
NEWARK, N.J. (AP) -- Authorities say another person has been fatally shot in Newark, the latest incident in a string of recent shootings and violent incidents.
Katherine Carter, a spokeswoman for the Essex County Prosecutor's Office, said the victim -- a man whose name was not disclosed -- was shot at Osborne Terrace and Shephard Avenue around 9 p.m. Friday.
He was taken to University Hospital in Newark, where he died a short time later.
The man became the fourth person -- including two high school students -- to be shot to death in Newark since Thursday. And six others have been wounded during that time.
It's not yet known what sparked any of the shootings, and authorities say it's not clear if any or all of them were connected. No arrests have been made.
This week's shootings followed a violent weekend that saw seven carjackings and six shootings -- including one that claimed the life of a 16-year-old boy. That shooting came just days after a lieutenant in the state Attorney General's Office had his vehicle carjacked on a city street.
Many residents blame the recent violence on the city's decision to lay off 167 police officers on Nov. 30 due to budgetary reasons.
Overall, crime in Newark is up 7 percent from last year, according to statistics posted on the police department's website. There have been 84 homicides in the city this year, four more than all of 2009.
In response to the recent violence, Newark Mayor Cory Booker says the city has deployed "dozens and dozens" of officers throughout the city. He also says Newark will "step up" its partnerships with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.
Authorities have also formed a special task force, which is targeting robberies and carjackings. Its members include representatives from the Essex County Prosecutor's office, the U.S. Attorney's office and the FBI.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
