By: Richard L. Smith
A grave incident involving a shooting and subsequent vehicle collision has occurred in Newark's North Ward, prompting an investigation by the Essex County Prosecutor's Office.
The complex event took place early Monday morning and has left one person dead amid a chaotic scene.
The incident began around 1:20 a.m. with a ShotSpotter activation that alerted police to gunfire in the area of 179 Woodside Avenue.
Upon arriving at the scene, officers discovered several vehicles involved in a collision, with one individual trapped and suffering severe head trauma inside one of the vehicles.
This person was later pronounced dead after being extricated by emergency responders. The Essex County Prosecutor’s Office confirmed that this person was shot dead.
Investigators found multiple shell casings at the scene, pointing to a violent encounter preceding the crash.
Adding to the complexity, officials at Clara Maass Hospital alerted police that a gunshot victim had been admitted to their emergency room.
The vehicle that transported the victim fled the scene shortly after dropping them off.
Authorities are now working to determine the motive behind the shooting and the exact sequence of events that led to this fatal crash/shooting.
The investigation remains active and ongoing. Further updates are expected as new information becomes available.
