Newark authorities are reporting that police have recovered 18 handguns and arrested seven adults and five juveniles over the course of the last week.
“We arrested a 12-year-old with an assault rifle last night,” Ambrose said at a press conference about the city’s overall crime reduction on Monday. “We continue to have problems with the juveniles.”
Police say one of the adults arrested was Shaquandra Jackson, 24, of Newark, who tried to bring a loaded handgun Newark Municipal Courthouse at 31 Green St. on Aug.7. She faces a charge of unlawful possession of a weapon.
The 12-year-old boy was arrested on Aug. 11, after police observed him with a gun in the South Ward. The juvenile was found in possession of a semi-automatic assault rifle and faces a charge of unlawful possession of a weapon.
According to police, on Monday, Aug. 12, a 17-year old male from East Orange was arrested in the 200 block of North 6th Street after police observed him with a defaced gun and hollow-point ammunition, as well as 24 jugs of suspected crack cocaine. He faces multiple weapons and drug charges.
Last week, on Aug. 10, a 15-year old male from Newark was arrested after the execution of a search warrant at a West Ward residence following a shooting incident five days earlier. He is charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and other weapons possessions offenses. Police also recovered two loaded handguns at the residence.
On August 9, 2019, a 17-year old male from Newark was arrested following a motor vehicle stop in the South Ward. The juvenile was found in possession of a loaded handgun. He faces charges of unlawful possession of a weapon and possession of a prohibited weapon (extended magazine) according to police.
Two boys, including another 12-year-old and 16-year-old, were detained carrying pellet guns in the South Ward. On Aug. 8. Four additional weapons were recovered as found property and one was recovered as part of an ongoing investigation.
A 17-year-old juvenile was arrested on Aug. 7 with Altariq L. Webb, 25, of Newark, Zamir Z. Knox, 20, of Union, after police, stopped their car for moving violations. The 17-year-old was in possession of a loaded handgun. He was charged with multiple weapons offenses and all three face multiple drug charges after being found with crack cocaine and marijuana.
The adults arrested in the week’s gun arrests include Haamid Shivers, 21, of Newark who was found carrying weapon while shoplifting at a grocery store on Irvington Avenue, Al-Raekon Woodson, 23, of Newark who police, observed with a handgun on the 100 block of S. 7th Street, and Langston T. Hunter, 32, who was in possession of a loaded handgun weapon found during a search warrant. He was also charged with multiple drug distribution charges.
Finally, police recovered a loaded handgun from a man determined to be suicidal.
So far this year, Newark Police and their federal, state and county law enforcement agencies that utilize Newark officers have taken 400 guns off the street.
“Getting these guns off the street is preventative law enforcement,” Ambrose said. “Every gun we recover means at least one less potential homicide, armed robbery or carjacking.”
These charges are merely accusations.
Each suspect is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.