By: Richard L. Smith
Newark is concluding a turbulent April marked by an alarming trend of violence, with the last three violent encounters particularly targeting women.
This pattern persisted with a shooting late Tuesday night, leaving another female victim injured and highlighting a month filled with similar violent acts across the city.
Last Night's Incident on Stone Street The most recent incident involved a woman found shot in the leg near 57 Stone Street around 11 p.m. Responding to a ShotSpotter alert, police found the victim struck by gunfire. The unidentified woman was rushed to the University Hospital. She is expected to recover, but the gunman remains at large, adding to the investigation into the motive behind this attack.
Deadly Shooting of Ms. Natasha Ellis Earlier in the month, on April 16, the violence claimed the life of 34-year-old Ms. Natasha Ellis in the Vailsburg section of Newark. The incident, which occurred just before 12:30 a.m., also followed a ShotSpotter detection. Upon arrival, officers found Ellis and another victim shot near South Orange Avenue and Alexander Street; Ellis did not survive.
Shooting of a Teenage Girl
Within 24 hours of the Stone Street shooting (Tuesday morning), a teenage girl suffered serious injuries after being targeted in Newark's West Ward. The shooting, which took place shortly after midnight in the Fairmount section (14th Avenue near South 15th Street), left the 17-year-old with a back wound. She was transported to University Hospital, where she remains in serious but stable condition.
These three incidents highlight frightening, troublesome patterns, with all attacks occurring late at night or early in the morning.
Though none of the cases have been confirmed as connected, the concentrated violence against women has sparked concern throughout the Newark community.
The Essex County Prosecutor's Office is actively investigating all related homicides, but multiple April shootings that did not result in death are being looked into by Newark Police and their Shooting Response team.
Despite county law enforcement efforts, RLS Media has learned that no arrests have been made in relation to the half-dozen murders recorded in April.
The investigations continue, with authorities piecing together evidence to understand the motives and prevent further violence.
As May begins, the city of Newark faces the challenge of addressing and curtailing this surge in violent crime, particularly those acts perpetrated against women, which have cast a shadow over the community's sense of security.