Authorities in Harrison are investigating two separate attacks that left a teenager shot and an adult male physically assaulted in the city late last night.
Residents in the Grant Ave. area immediately dialed 911 after hearing what appeared to be a gunshot that rang out in the neighborhood sometime around 8:30 p.m.
Police raced to the scene where they located a male victim (later identified as an 18-year-old teen who lived nearby) suffering an apparent gunshot wound to the stomach.
EMS rushed the victim to University Hospital in Newark where medical staff were awaiting his immediate arrival. The victim suffered no apparent serious damage to organs and is expected to make a full recovery according to early morning reports
Police are on the search for two black male suspects who reportedly wore dark clothing and are responsible for the shooting.
Early morning reports indicate the incident was an attempted armed robbery.
A short time later in the area of 5th Street near Hamilton Ave., police responded to reports of an injured person at that location. Units arrived to the scene and found a male victim suffering a head injury after being attacked by two male suspects after reportedly returning home from work according to residents in the area.
The man was transported to University Hospital in Newark suffering non-life threatening injuries according to reports.
The male victim was reportedly approached by two black male suspects wearing dark clothing who demanded personal possessions before they went on the attack, striking the victim in the head with an object that appeared to be a gun according to the victim.
In a statement sent to RLS Metro Breaking News, a city official said that the city remains a safe place for residents and businesses. "Our police department does an excellent job at keeping residents and properties safe and secure 24-hours a day. Shootings are rare in the city and incidents of violent crimes remain low" the city official said.
"Our detectives are investigating both incidents, and will work aggressively at bringing the suspects responsible to justice" the city official said.
"We continue to ask our residents and businesses to remain observant and vigilant in identifying suspicious individuals or activity in your neighborhoods. Please immediately contact police if anything appears out of the norm in your neighborhoods as you will receive rapid police response as usual" the city official concluded.