The Essex County Prosecutor's Office have released the identification of a man who was shot and killed on an Irvington Street on Friday afternoon.
According to a spokesperson for the prosecutor's office, **Dashawn Howard, 27, of Irvington** was fatally shot at approximately 3 p.m. in the 100 block of 19th Avenue.
Reports of shots fired sent Irvington Police to the area where they located Howard injured by gunfire according to reports.
The area where Howard was gunned down is one of Essex County's worst displays of urban blight and neighborhoods in disrepair.
In a 6-8 block radius, there are dozens of abandoned homes and empty lot properties that are guarded by large trees that prevent cars from being left abandoned, piles of garbage and litter that has rodents actively present throughout the day, and highway concrete road blocks that create dead end streets which ultimately detour motorist into streets where the view of potential criminal activity is obviously present.
"The open air drug distribution market is something terrible and reminds me of the movie New Jack City " the resident continued.
According to residents that we've spoke to on the nearby Ellis Avenue, the area has changed very little in the last 10 years. "If anything, it's gotten worst, with very little attention to make it better" they said.
If there is anyone with information on the fatal shooting of **Dashawn Howard** please contact the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide/Major Crimes Task Force tips line at 1-877-TIPS-4EC or 1-877-847-7432. All calls are kept anonymous.