Newark Public Safety Director Anthony F. Ambrose reports an update regarding yesterday’s arrest of Lamont L. West, 37, of Irvington.
Police said West was arrested in connection with a shooting that occurred on Sunday, October 16, 2016.
Authorities said at approximately 10:54 p.m., officers responded to the area of South 20th Street and 17th Avenue on a call of shots fired.
A 37-year old male victim was found lying on the ground with gunshot wounds.
The victim was transported to University Hospital for treatment.
After an intense investigation, detectives determined that Lamont L. West is a suspect in this shooting.
The Honorable Dion Williams, J.M.C., issued a warrant in the amount of $350,000.00 for West’s arrest.
Officers of the Fugitive Apprehension Team (FAT) located West at the Hampton Inn in Harrison, where he was seen driving into the parking lot in a silver BMW.
West was pulled over and arrested without incident.
Following his arrest, FAT executed a search warrant of West’s rented room at the Hampton Inn.
Police seized a .45 caliber handgun, suspected as the weapon used in the South 20th Street shooting, and 14.5 bricks of suspected CDS heroin from the room.
The heroin has an estimated street value in excess of $5,000.
Harrison Police also seized an AR-15 assault-type weapon, which may be connected to West, hidden in a bag behind a building near the hotel.
West is charged with Aggravated Assault, Unlawful Possession of a Weapon and Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose.
These charges are merely accusations.
The suspect is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.