Police officials in Newark are reporting that officers recovered nine illegal firearms and arrested seven individuals for unlawful possession of a weapon during the week ending Saturday, May 28, 2022.
“I am grateful for those concerned community members who alerted police when they saw individuals with handguns on the street,” Director O’Hara said.
“This shows that Newark residents and visitors are willing to assist police in reaching our mutual goal of reducing gun violence.
With over 300 firearms recovered so far this year, we are reporting a 38 percent increase over the same period last year,” he added.
Newark Police arrested three individuals in separate incidents on May 28, 2022.
Mr. Raymond Jenkins, 27, of Newark, was arrested in the area of Garside Street and 6th Avenue after he was observed with a loaded .9mm handgun.
He faces charges of unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a prohibited weapon (hollow-point ammunition), resisting arrest, obstruction of the administration of the law, and certain persons forbidden from weapon possession.
Mr. Michael Weaver, 36, of Irvington, faces charges of unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a firearm for an illegal purpose, possession of a prohibited weapon (large-capacity magazine), possession of CDS, and certain persons prohibited from weapon possession after he was arrested in the 700 block of Frelinghuysen Avenue for possession of a loaded .45 caliber handgun.
Mr. Marcus Bennett, 23, of Newark, faces a charge of unlawful possession of a weapon after he was observed with a gun in the 200 block of Fairmount Avenue.
On May 25, 2022, a 17-year-old male was arrested at South 21st Street and Springfield Avenue after he was observed with a .45 caliber handgun.
He faces charges of unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of prohibited weapons (large-capacity magazine and hollow-point ammunition), possession of firearms by a minor, and obstruction of the administration of the law. The juvenile was wearing a GPS ankle monitor when he was taken into custody.
Mr. Hakeem O. Tucker, 36, of Newark, was arrested on May 24, 2022, after a concerned community member observed him with a firearm in the 500 block of North 6th Street. He was found in possession of a loaded .380 caliber handgun and faces charges of unlawful possession of a weapon and possession of a firearm for an illegal purpose.
Mr. Kevin Perry, 27, of Newark, was arrested in the area of Crane Street and Broadway on May 23, 2022, after he was observed with a loaded .9mm handgun.
He faces charges of unlawful possession of a weapon, unlawful possession of a firearm, CDS possession, CDS distribution, and CDS distribution within 1,000-ft. of a school.
Mr. Tyshaun Preston, 18, of Newark, was arrested on May 21, 2022, in the area of Ridgewood Avenue near Madison Avenue after he was observed with a loaded .45 caliber handgun.
He faces charges of unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of prohibited weapons (large capacity magazine and defaced firearm), resisting arrest, and obstruction of the administration of the law.
Police also recovered handgun that was found in the 100 block of Hobson Street on May 22, 2022. And a loaded BB gun was recovered from two male juveniles at Great Oaks Legacy Charter School on May 26, 2022.
“I commend our detectives for their diligence in recovering illegal weapons from our streets nearly on a daily basis,” Director O’Hara said. “These men and women put their lives on the line day and night to ensure the safety of our neighborhoods.”
These charges are merely accusations.
Each suspect is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.