By: Richard L. Smith
The Essex County Prosecutor’s Office is on the scene investigating a chaotic shooting incident -domestic in nature- that has three people dead, including a 7-year-old child, in Newark’s South Ward this evening.
Authorities have not released much information regarding the investigation, but according to sources, at approximately 8:44 p.m., police responded to calls of several people shot at 363 Johnson Avenue.
While several officers were making their way to the scene, they reportedly observed a male on Watson Avenue armed with a gun.
Police reportedly ordered the suspect to stop and put the weapon down, but the man fled the scene on Watson Avenue.
While at the intersection of Watson and Elizabeth Avenue, at least one police officer fired his weapon, striking and killing the unidentified suspect.
Sources told RLS Media other officers made their way to the two-story newly built house and found an adult male victim shot multiple times. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
EMS rushed a 7-year-old boy to University Hospital suffering a gunshot wound to her chest. Medical staff pronounced her dead a short time later.
According to police, a fourth gunshot victim entered Beth Israel Hospital suffering bullet wounds and was treated by medical staff. Their condition has not been confirmed as fatal as of 10:28 p.m.
The New Jersey Attorney General’s Office has been notified and will take over the active and ongoing investigation.