Police are searching for that gunman accused of targeting a mother and her 15-year-old daughter in Linden last night.
Officers responded to a report of a shooting on the 900 block of Middlesex Street at approximately 7:16 p.m., Captain James Sarnicki said this morning.
While en route to the scene, police received a call reporting a Toyota Camry had struck a fence and utility pole at Bower Street and E. Henry Street.
Upon arrival at the scene, officers located two female victims in the car, ages 41 and 15, a mother and daughter from Linden, who were suffering from gunshot wounds.
The victims were transported to University Hospital in Newark.
The mother suffered several gunshot wounds to the torso and pelvic area and is in critical but stable condition.
The daughter was treated for a gunshot wound to the wrist and a graze wound to the face. She was treated and released from University Hospital.
According to witnesses, the mother and daughter entered their car when they were approached by a black male wearing a blue or black bubble-type jacket with white lines or white lettering. The man is described as heavy or husky-build, 6’0”, and is in his 30’s. He also had a dark scarf wrapped around his head covering his face except for his eyes. He walked up to the passenger side of the car and exchanged words with the younger victim before she entered the car. He then drew a handgun and fired at the car striking both victims.
The man then fled on foot possibly to a vehicle parked down the street. The victims then drove their vehicle to the corner of Bower St. and E. Henry St. where it struck a utility pole.
Investigators believe the victims were targeted and there is no other danger to the community.
The Union County Sheriff’s Department Crime Scene Unit responded to the two locations to assist Linden officers and detectives processing the scene for evidence.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Linden Detectives Ken Mikolajczyk at 908-474-8542 or Steve Zevlikaris at 908-474-8520. Information can also be emailed to crimetips@lpdnj.org.
The Union County Crime Stoppers also are offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to an arrest and indictment in this case; tips can be given anonymously by phone at 908-654-TIPS (8477), via text message by texting “UCTIP” plus a message to 274637 (CRIMES), or online atwww.uctip.org.