A quiet evening in the south part of Newark turned into a nightmare Saturday, when gunfire erupted in the 300 block of Chancellor Avenue around 7:00 p.m. The scene left two people dead — including a 10-year-old boy named Jordan — and three others wounded.
Investigators from the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office and the Homicide/Major Crimes Task Force say they arrived to find multiple victims suffering gunshot wounds. Among them were Jordan, the 10-year-old boy, and a 21-year-old woman, both of whom were taken to University Hospital in critical condition and later pronounced dead.
In the same attack, an 11-year-old boy, a 19-year-old man and a 60-year-old man were also struck by bullets. All three survive and are reported to be in stable condition. While the ages of victims and the location of the shooting are now established, what remains unclear is what triggered the violence — no suspects have been publicly identified and no motive has been disclosed.
Officials say the investigation is now active and ongoing. To rally community support and encourage anyone with information to come forward, Amir Jones, the Essex County sheriff, has announced a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to an arrest and conviction in the case.
Local leaders and residents are shaken. Ras Baraka, the mayor of Newark, called the shooting “a dark and devastating day” for the city, particularly as it came at a time when violent crime had been on the decline year-to-date. Neighbors described hearing rapid bursts of gunfire followed by screaming, a chilling soundscape that underscored how quickly the night’s calm was shattered.
In the aftermath, the community is grappling with both grief and fear. The loss of a child—taken far too soon—is hitting families hard, transforming what should’ve been an ordinary Saturday into a day of trauma and uncertainty. The fact that younger and older victims alike were involved only heightens the pain and urgency. As one local violence-prevention advocate put it: “these family members are absolutely traumatized by what happened to their loved ones.”
As detectives comb for answers, residents are urged to call the tips line at 1-877-TIPS-4EC to share any information, anonymously if they prefer. The hope is that someone out there heard something, saw something, and is now ready to step forward. With the reward on the table and law enforcement committed, the aim is clear: bring justice for Jordan, the 21-year-old woman and all affected, and stop someone else from becoming the next victim.
