STORY & PHOTO BY THOMAS ELLIS II
This past Saturday, November 15th, brought a lot of sadness and tears to the residents, friends, South Ward community, and the city of Newark.
Early in the morning a 2-year-old baby fell out the 20th floor window to its death from a high rise building on Elizabeth Avenue. An investigation into the fatal fall of the toddler is still underway. This was such a tragic incident for any mother or family member to have to endure.
Later that evening at around 7 pm on the 300 block of Chancellor Avenue and Leslie Street, a mass shooting broke out with five people being shot. Two of the victims did not make it: 10-year-old Jordan Garcia, and 21-year-old Kiyah Mae Scott. The other three victims, an 11-year-old, a 19-year old, and a 60-year-old, are expected to survive. We are not identifying anyone, as the shooter has not been apprehended.
Reports say that the 10-year-old and the 11-year-old are brothers that were returning home and just got caught in the crossfire.
It’s sad to see a community live in fear because of the violence that occurs on its corners or on its blocks. It’s sad to see young children mourning the death of their young friends because of the gun violence that occurs in the community. It’s sad to see a mother crying and traumatized by the news that her child has just been shot, and is dead. What’s most devastating is to see this happen and nobody says anything which only creates more fear in the lives of the residents and community.
The Essex County Sheriff’s Office has put up a $10,000 reward. Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka has demanded whoever committed this act to turn themselves in.
At a gathering Sunday on Chancellor and Leslie, several family members of the 21-year-old that was killed and people in the community joined her mother called out the shooter, “Where you at, where you at now? You will be caught.”
The Newark Police Department are looking for two possible suspects, and on Monday at 10 am, the Essex Country Prosectors Office gave an update during a press conference. It was there that they showed a video of 5 people standing on the corner of Chancellor Avenue in front of Haber Liquors around 7 pm when shots rang out.
During the press conference, Mayor Baraka stated that there are too many guns on the streets of Newark, and that something has to be done to address the issue.
Essex County Prosecutor Ted Stephens II called this a horrific crime and that they would not withhold any resources to solve this shooting.
Let’s pray that somebody somewhere say something and the shooters are caught, or that they have a conscience, and turn themselves in. Because as long as they are on the streets, the community will continue to live in fear.
