The Essex County Prosecutor's Office has taken over the investigation into a shooting that killed one person and injured about four others in Newark's North Ward Wednesday morning.
According to a preliminary investigation, residents in the vicinity of North 13th Street and 4th Avenue dialed 911 after hearing several popping noises just before 12:52 a.m.
Fast responding Newark Police officers arrived at the scene and immediately taped off North 12th Street after finding three victims struck by multiple bullets at that location.
Police say the trio were rushed to University Hospital for treatment where one of the victims was pronounced dead a short time later.
According to police, while detectives canvassed the crime scene, officials at University Hospital alerted police that two additional gunshot victims were transported by private vehicle to the emergency room.
According to residents, shooters pulled up in the community and began to fire at individuals in the neighborhood repeatedly.
Residents say already noticeable drug trafficking in the area has shown an obvious uptick in illegal activity in the last several months.
Two victims have been listed in serious condition.
The motive for the shooting is under investigation and the suspects remain at-large.
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