Police officials in Newark are reporting that Newark Police have recovered 177 illegal weapons this year to the week ending April 4, 2021, showing an increase of 31 percent over the same period last year.
“The Newark Police Division stands in solidarity with Mayor Baraka’s pledge to address violence as a public health issue and is vigilant about removing as many illegal firearms from our streets as possible,” Director O’Hara said.
“I am pleased that our gun recoveries have increased from 122 for the first week in April 2020 to 177 for the same period this year. In fact, so far this month, Newark Police made arrests of three convicted felons armed with handguns and also removed two high-capacity firearms from the street, one of which was reported stolen.
Our body-worn camera footage shows that the officers handled each one of these incidents professionally and with the safety of the community in mind.”
On April 9th, at approximately 8 p.m., detectives recovered a stolen .40 caliber loaded with 27 live rounds in an extended magazine from a garbage can while conducting an investigation at Evergreen Avenue and Hanford Street.
This incident remains under investigation.
Arrested for weapon possession in separate incidents were William D. Simmons, 28, Tayvaun T. Caparitia, 20, Shaquan R. Huey, 22, and Shukri M. Dunell, 25, all of Newark.
On April 8th, Simmons was arrested in the 100 block of Chadwick Avenue after police observed him disregard a stop sign at the intersection of Chadwick Avenue and West Bigelow Street while driving a silver 2010 Dodge Charger.
Police conducted a motor vehicle stop in which Simmons was unable to produce the vehicle’s registration, proof of insurance or a valid driver’s license.
Officers observed a loaded handgun in the rear passenger seat, where a juvenile passenger was seated. Simmons was immediately arrested and faces charges of weapon possession, possession of prohibited weapons (extended magazine), certain persons prohibited from weapon possession as a convicted felon and endangering the welfare of a child.
He was issued summonses for driving without a license, disregarding a stop sign, failure to possess a valid driver’s insurance card, and other violations (Video Link 1 below).
On April 7th, Caparitia was arrested in the 700 block of Hunterdon Street after police responded to a ShotSpotter notification of gunfire on Weequahic Avenue.
Responding officers observed a white Mazda SUV speeding away on Nye Avenue. Officers conducted a motor vehicle stop after locating the vehicle on Hunterdon Street.
Police observed a loaded handgun inside the vehicle where Caparitia was sitting. He was immediately arrested (Video Link 2 below). Caparitia faces charges of unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and certain persons prohibited from weapon possession as a convicted felon.
On April 5th, Huey was arrested after police investigating a shooting incident encountered two vehicles driving erratically and in pursuit of one another in the area of Chadwick and Avon avenues. Officers conducted a motor vehicle stop of one of the vehicles driven by Huey, a 2016 blue Nissan Maxima, at Muhammad Ali Avenue and Bergen Street. Officers observed a handgun inside the vehicle.
The 9mm firearm was loaded with 22 live rounds. Huey was immediately arrested and charged with unlawful possession of a weapon and possession of a prohibited weapon (large capacity magazine).
On April 3rd, Dunell, a convicted felon, was arrested in connection with an armed robbery and abduction after police received a report of two male robbery victims being forced to drive a male suspect—who was armed with a handgun—in the victim's silver Ford pickup truck.
The suspect had forced one of the victims to remove cash from an ATM located inside a store at 776 Bergen Street.
Police observed the victim’s vehicle and conducted a motor vehicle stop at Hawthorne Avenue and Wainwright Street. At that point, the suspect, Dunell, exited the vehicle and fled on foot.
Dunell was pursued on foot after an officer observed a gun in his hand. He was immediately apprehended, and police recovered the handgun, which was found to be loaded (Video Link 3 below).
Dunell is charged with two counts of robbery, unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, possession of a prohibited weapon (large capacity magazine), certain persons prohibited from weapon possession and resisting arrest.
“I commend all the officers involved in these arrests and investigations for their commitment to ensuring that senseless violence is reduced in our neighborhoods,” Director O’Hara added.
”I also thank our federal, state, county and local law enforcement partners for their ongoing assistance in reducing gun violence by supporting Newark Police in recovering illegal guns.”
The listed charges are merely accusations. Each suspect is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.