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Wanted for murder, cops reportedly find him hiding in basement

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Alquan B. Council, 27, was arrested by police in Syracuse, N.Y.

NEWARK -- A city man wanted in connection with a fatal shooting last month has been arrested in upstate New York, according to a report. 

image003.pngAlquan B. Council, 27, of Newark. (Essex County Prosecutor's Office)

Alquan B. Council, 27, was arrested by police in Syracuse, N.Y., Friday morning while hiding in a basement, Syracuse.com reported. The Essex County Sheriff's Office assisted in the arrest. 

Council has been charged murder, attempted murder, aggravated assault and weapons offenses in the June 25 shooting on Edwin Place, according to police. 

Authorities said Council opened fire with a shotgun on 39-year-old Newark resident Rayshawn Ross and another man just before 9 p.m. that night.

Ross died at the scene, and the other, unidentified man, was taken to University Hospital in critical condition. 

Craig McCarthy may be reached at 732-372-2078 or at CMcCarthy@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @createcraig and on Facebook here. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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2 N.Y. men tried to rent car at airport with fake license, credit card, cops said

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Rental car staff became suspicious when the credit card he presented had no hologram, authorities said

NEWARK -- Two Brooklyn men were charged with having false documents when one of them tried to rent a car at Newark Liberty International Airport, authorities said Saturday.

Jeorge Echevarria, 40, and Jonathan Vinas, 25, were each charged with conspiracy, forgery, false government documents, credit card theft and hindering apprehension of one self after they were arrested at the Hertz Car Rental site at the airport Thursday night, said Joseph Pentangelo, spokesman for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police Department.

Pentangelo said Hertz staff became suspicious and called police when Echevarria tried to use a credit card with no hologram while he was trying to rent and upgrade a rental car there at 10 p.m.

While interviewing Echevarria, police found he had on him a Florida's driver's license that had the same name on it as the one on the fake credit card, Pentangelo said. He said Echevarria told police the name on the credit card was not his and he gave police a New York State license with his actual name.

Staff also became suspicious when Echevarria was speaking on the cell phone during the rental process, he said. He said it became clear that the person he was talking to on the phone was conspiring with Echevarria, Pentangelo said.

After police arrested him and searched him, they found on him a second credit card with the fake name used on the Florida's driver's license.

Police arrested Vinas in the Hertz lot, Pentangelo said. He said Vinas had on him three credit cards matching the name of the bogus driver's license that Echevarria had, he said.

He said Echevarria filled out a rental agreement using the forged credit card and the fake driver's license.  

MaryAnn Spoto may be reached at mspoto@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @MaryAnnSpoto. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

 

Child, 6, among 3 shot in Newark, police say

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Police said the child was in stable condition after the Saturday evening shooting.

NEWARK -- A 6-year-old and two adult men were shot near Central Avenue and Third Street in Newark Saturday evening, police said. 

The shooting happened at about 5:45 p.m., and all three were taken to University Hospital, where they were in stable condition, police said. 

Police said they did not immediately have any suspects or information on motive. An investigation is ongoing.

Police ask anyone with information about the shooting to call the department's confidential, 24-hour Crime Stopper tip line at 1-877-NWK-TIPS (1-877-695-8477) or 1-877-NWK-GUNS (1-877-695-4867). Crime Stopper tips could lead to a reward.

Anonymous tips can also be made at www.newarkpdonline.org or through the new "Newark Police Division, NJ" smartphone app available at iTunes and Google Play.

Marisa Iati may be reached at miati@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @Marisa_Iati or on Facebook here. Find NJ.com on Facebook

Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips

 

Powerful N.J. lawmaker draws another opponent

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A second Democrat has entered the race against Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen.

WASHINGTON -- Another Democratic candidate has entered the race against Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen in a congressional district that gave less than 50 percent of its votes to President Donald Trump.

Passaic County Freeholder John Bartlett has announced his candidacy for the 2018 Democratic nomination to take on Frelinghuysen (R-11th Dist.), among the initial targets of the House Democratic campaign arm.

"It's time for new voices, for a representative who listens to his constituents and has the practical know-how to understand where and how Washington can and should still make a difference in New Jersey," said Bartlett, a Wayne resident.

How lawmaker's power could pay off

Bartlett joins Mikie Sherrill, a former Navy helicopter pilot and federal prosecutor in the race. Assemblyman John McKeon (D-Essex) also is considering a run.

Frelinghuysen has rejected requests from constituents to hold an in-person town hall meeting but has held events where he answers questions by telephone. Bartlett said he would begin his campaign by traveling around the district, meeting with residents in person.

"I want to hear from you, the voters, about your lives, your kids, and your parents, and your hopes, your dreams, and your fears," he said. "We won't pre-select who speaks, and there's no 'mute' button if you ask a tough question." 

Frelinghuysen is chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, making him one of the most powerful House Republicans. Two Washington-based publications that track congressional races, Inside Elections and the Cook Political Report, have rated Frelinghuysen as more vulnerable since he switched positions and voted for the House Republicans' health care bill that the Congressional Budget Office said would leave  23 million more Americans without coverage.

He also was embroiled in controversy after identifying a member of an anti-Trump group to her employer. 

Jonathan D. Salant may be reached at jsalant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JDSalant or on Facebook. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.

How a $40 parking ticket grew into $1.4M payday for ex-cop

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An ex-cop from Hamburg sued the police department in this tiny borough and won. Big.

Monument remembers those who died in the Newark riots | Carter

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Monument honors those who died in the 1967 Newark riots.

The triangle-shaped patch of grass at Springfield and 15th avenues is long overdue for some grooming.

A tree stump sticks out of the ground, its roots visible. Three nearby flower pots contain unrecognizable plants.

Between the two, is a 20-year-old monument that leans left from where the land slopes awkwardly underneath.  On the front of the grey colored granite stone there is an inscription above the names of 26 people who were killed in the Newark riots, which occurred 50 years ago this Wednesday.

"We will forever remember the names of those whose lives were lost."

MORE: Recent Barry Carter columns 

Farrell Lee, a homeless man on crutches, doesn't forget, even though the city hasn't kept up its maintenance. He passes by the historical marker all the time, pausing briefly to reflect. About a week ago, Lee stopped when he saw two men standing there talking about how the monument came to be erected in the Central Ward.

One, the narrator, was Larry Hamm, president of the People's Organization For Progress (POP), a grassroots Newark civil rights group. 

The other, his audience, was me.

The patch of land is known as Rebellion Park, a lasting memory to those who died. POP overtures for a monument began sometime after 1983, the year it was founded and started holding liberation marches on July 12 to observe the anniversary of what Hamm calls "the rebellion." Newark, rife with poverty and discrimination, erupted that hot summer night in 1967, with five days of rioting that left the city ravaged with $10 million worth of property damage, and the loss of 26 lives.

In memory of that tumultuous period, the liberation march route was one big loop, starting from Fairmont and Springfield avenues, about five blocks from 15th Avenue and 7th Street. That's where John Smith, a black cab driver, was arrested by two white Newark police officers, John DeSimone and Vito Pontrelli, who claimed he had been tailgating them before passing by their patrol car improperly.

Marchers would walk down Springfield Avenue, turning right onto Irvine Turner Boulevard. They'd weave their way through Scudder Homes, Hayes Homes and Stella Wright, three behemoth public housing high-rise complexes that have since been demolished.

The march ended with a rally at the Fourth Precinct on 17th Avenue, which is where Smith had been taken by the arresting officers.

"That was ground zero,'' Hamm said. "That's where it all kicked off.''

Rumors spread that Smith not only had been beaten, but that he had been killed by police. Only one part of that story was true as a large crowd gathered outside after witnesses had seen Smith dragged into the precinct. Smith would be transferred to the hospital for his injuries after community leaders Bob Curvin, Esta Williams and James Walker demanded to see him at the precinct. They found him bleeding and in pain.

Hamm has heard these accounts and relays them to whomever has attended the commemoration over the years.

Lee was still at the monument, looking at the backside of the stone marker, which is blank.

"This (riots) shouldn't have ever happened,'' Lee said. "They're not going to be forgotten.''

He thinks something from the past should be affixed to monument. Maybe pictures of the Stella Wright and Hayes homes.

"How does that sound?'' he asked.

"Sounds good,'' said Hamm.

Lee took off, expressing hope that the monument eventually will get some attention.

"We need to put it on a firm foundation,'' Hamm said. "It does need a little work.''

By Wednesday's 50th anniversary commemoration, the city will have cut the grass and straightened up the monument. New flowers will be planted, a nice substitute to the unsightly flower pots. The park is supposed to be maintained by the city, but Newark Council President Mildred Crump said there hasn't been an active parks and grounds department over the years.

"There was no one to do the work,'' Crump said. "But since the mayor has been in (office), they're catching up.''

She said she has been assured Rebellion Park will be taken care of.  

Sandwiched between two heavily traveled streets, the monument looks out of place. Low income housing is on the 15th Avenue side. The social security office, a liquor store and bodega line a one-block section of Springfield Avenue. The surrounding grounds need to be cleared.

Despite the optics, the monument is right where it belongs. It's close to where Smith was arrested and jailed.

"We had been saying that there needed to be a monument, but the idea had been floating around in the community for quite some time.'' said Hamm

The late Central Ward Councilman George Branch never let go of that thought after the riots. Former Mayor Sharpe James said it became his "pet project,'' and his council colleagues and the administration were not against it.

"It was an idea whose time had come,'' James said.

Two years after the Million Man March, the monument was dedicated on July 11, 1997, which at the time was the 30th anniversary of the uprising.

Once installed, the demonstration through the neighborhood was scaled back to a short march from the monument to the police precinct for a rally. Marchers would come back to the new gathering place, and the observance was officially called a commemoration.

"This gave us a place to come to,'' Hamm said. Sometimes family members came. People showed up spontaneously, some out of curiosity.

When they do attend, folks gather in a circle to hear the names read aloud of those who died. Flowers are always placed at the foot of the monument. Motorists honk their horns.

This same ritual will happen again on Wednesday. And the story will be told again of what happened, and how it started.

Many of the deaths - including Newark Police Detective Fred Toto and Newark Fire Capt. Michael Moran - were at first blamed on snipers. But historians doubt that assertion made by former national guardsmen and police officers.  It was never determined conclusively where the shots came from that killed Toto and Moran.

Eloise Spellman, 41 was cooking dinner, when she was mistaken for a sniper by a National guardsmen as she leaned out of her 10th floor apartment window at Hayes Homes. He fatally shot her in the neck.

Kimberly Spellman, the youngest of Spellman's 11 children, calls it murder to this day. She'll be at the observance on Wednesday.

"It was unnecessary for them to think there was snipers shooting down. They never ever found the sniper,'' said Spellman, who lives in Queens, N.Y.

Eddie Moss, 10, was a passenger in a car when he was shot behind the ear from a stray bullet at a National Guard checkpoint.

The point is this. A lot of shots were fired by police and guardsmen, who used reports of sniper fire to justify indiscriminate shooting of the civilians who died.  Former Mayor Ken Gibson, the city's first black mayor, had said, "There were just a lot of cops and guardsmen with guns, firing at shadows."

The first two deaths of the riots, however, were the result of looting and burglary.

Each year the turnout at the observance varies, except for the 40th anniversary. Hundreds came that day for the tribute in 2007. Maybe it will be the same for the 50th.

Hamm stops the history lesson when Dorreen Adams and Chris Cade sit on the concrete bench by the monument.

She lives in the neighborhood, and like Lee, the guy on crutches, Adams sees the monument every day.

It may look forgotten, but it's not. Adams said strangers get out of their cars to take pictures.

"People know it's there,'' she said.

Hamm listens and the conversations shifts. They begin to talk about long ago treasures in the neighborhood, pointing as if they can still see the bread factory on Irvine Turner.

"Who remembers the National Theater?'' Hamm asked.

There was a Foodtown supermarket nearby, a pawn shop, an ice cream parlor. Vendors drove horse drawn carriages selling fruits and vegetables.

Cade jumped in, recalling the New Ark School, an alternative educational institution.  The Black Panther Party, he said, would have kids in the area clean up the neighborhood.

MORE CARTER: Newark kids head for the great outdoors

Jimmy Jones heard them talking as he was walking by, and tossed his memories into the soup.

He grew up in the Stella Wright homes and was a member of the Boys and Girls club on the site. They competed in sports against the other clubs across the city. Life, they all said, was meaningful, less complicated back then.

"That's when Newark was its finest,'' Adams said.

There were lots of stores and good neighbors. You could leave your door open and nobody was going to take anything.

Until the riots.

But there's respect for the monument and its historical import.

No one bothers the stone.

No one should.

It's been that way for 20 years.

Barry Carter: (973) 836-4925 or bcarter@starledger.com or

nj.com/carter or follow him on Twitter @BarryCarterSL

'I'm inspired by this:' Newark reopens 116-year-old firehouse

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Renovations to fix leaks and water damage to ceilings, walls and floors took a year

NEWARK-- Twenty-four hour work shifts can be grueling for firefighters, especially when their temporary home -- the fire station -- is falling apart. 

In Newark's North Ward, city officials are hoping a newly renovated, century-old fire house will bring a level of comfort to those battling flames and saving lives on a daily basis. 

Mayor Ras Baraka and council members stood in front of the Park Avenue Fire House Wednesday afternoon to announce the grand re-opening of the 116-year-old building. Members of the Roseville Neighborhood Association looked on from the sidelines to celebrate. 

The year-long renovations focused on repairing water leakage issues that damaged the building's ceilings, walls and floors, upgrading the heating and air conditioning and remodeling the kitchen and bathrooms. 

Standing beside the men and women of Newark's Fire Department, Baraka called the remodeling a "small gesture" of appreciation that aimed to preserve, yet modernize, the historic firehouse. 

"Our job is to make sure they are comfortable, and that they have everything they need in order to get out here and do a very difficult and dangerous job," Baraka said. "We appreciate everything (firefighters) do."

For Newark Fire Chief Rufus Jackson, the renovated building signals the next chapter for Newark.

Jackson, who grew up in the South ward, said he was struck by the impressive fire station as a kid, when he and his cousin would ride bikes past it during the summer.

"Many generations thereafter are going to be able to have memories of this station," Jackson said. "I'm inspired by this."

The Park Avenue Firehouse, composed of Engine 15 and Ladder 7, will be manned by 32 firefighters and eight captains. It also acts as an Ice Rescue Unit servicing the lakes of Branch Brook Park. In total, the city said the house responded to nearly 3,300 calls last year. 

Alongside Councilmen Eddie Osborne and Carlos Gonzalez, the mayor said the new station was part of a larger effort to rebuild the city's infrastructure, including the repaving of 280 streets and renovating the recreation center. 

An initiative unveiled last week, "Newark 2020," calls on companies in the city to hire 2,020 residents by the year 2020 in an effort to revitalize Newark and curb unemployment. 

"(The firehouse) is another step forward in the transformation of Newark," he said. 

Avalon Zoppo may be reached at azoppo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter at @AvalonZoppo. Find NJ.com on Facebook

Tevlin family perseveres three years after murder | Di Ionno

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On the instep of Michaela Tevlin's right foot is a modest tattoo. It simply says, "Life is good." The script is in her late brother's handwriting with the words taken from a paper he wrote at a Kairos religious retreat while at Seton Hall Prep. "I had it done a month after he died," she said. The inscription is...

On the instep of Michaela Tevlin's right foot is a modest tattoo.

It simply says, "Life is good."

The script is in her late brother's handwriting with the words taken from a paper he wrote at a Kairos religious retreat while at Seton Hall Prep.

"I had it done a month after he died," she said.

The inscription is a constant reminder of her brother's spirit and the way he embraced his family and friends.

Yes, life was good for Brendan Tevlin, until the very moment his accused killer stepped out of the  shadows on a rainy night and fired shots at a random American, to allegedly fulfill some crazed, narcissistic jihadist fantasy.

Up to that very moment on the night he died, Brendan was out with some of his many friends, all home from college, playing videos games, grabbing snacks at a convenience store. He had just texted his mother to say he was on his way home.

The killer's name will not be printed here because the only interest in him in this column space is that justice prevail. His trial has yet to be scheduled.

This story is about the Tevlin family and those three simple words "Life is good."

It's about survival through a grief so profound that it can be described only as an unfathomable, empty abyss.

But this family somehow managed to fill that vacant space with love for one another and the embrace of the many local communities of which they are an intrinsic part: the extensive Seton Hall family, their Livingston neighbors, Brendan's friends, the congregation at St. Philomena's in Livingston, the proud Irish-Americans centered around the Shillelagh Club of West Orange.

Brendan Tevlin was 19 when he was killed three years ago after completing his freshman year at the University of Richmond. He would have graduated in May. Think about that. Think about the many celebrations that will never happen, but will forever have a nagging place in the "if only" consciousness of the family.

If only he had taken a different way home. If only the light hadn't turned red. If only he'd left later or earlier. If only ... if only ... if only ...

Grief may lessen. But the hole left by loss only grows. Brendan Tevlin will never give his parents grandchildren, will never be his brother's best man, will never be "Uncle Bren," or as the first-born son, ascend to the role as patriarch of the extended family.

That was stolen from the family on that rainy June night three years ago.

But some things were gained.

His siblings became better emotional caretakers of one another and their parents.

His brother became a better leader.

And nothing loving is left unsaid, nor is anyone taken for granted.

"You can only focus so much on your own grief," said Michaela, 20, who is entering her junior year at her late brother's college and will study in Rome this year. "Everyone is going through it. I worried about my parents, but they got up every day and went to work. They never stopped and completely shut down. It's remarkable."

She said she's grown closer to her two brothers, Sean, 16, and Brian, 18, who once shared a room with Brendan.

"We were always close," she said. "But we've gotten much closer. We learned you can't take anything for granted."

Life, in its cruelest form, can be short.

Brian Tevlin was a Star-Ledger first-team lacrosse player and made the All-USA Today second team. He's headed to Yale to play.

This spring, the athletic stadium at Seton Hall Prep was dedicated to Brendan Tevlin. His name is on the top crest of the logo circle at midfield. His initials BPT make up the logo and are the same size as the SHP for Seton Hall Prep. His brother, Brian, as captain, was at the center of the emotional ceremony.

The field was refurbished with money raised by various funding events run by Brendan's former teammates, including an annual lacrosse tournament.

Brian was always a more gifted player, driven by a rare competitiveness.

"I used to cry when I lost at anything," he said. "It didn't matter what."

But his brother's death, he said, turned him into a better teammate.

"(Brendan) wasn't one of those 'unreal' athletes," Brian said. "But he was the best teammate. He was the guy who made lacrosse fun. He was the guy with the most friends, who cared the most about the other guys on the team."

Brian was captain of lacrosse his junior and senior year, and captain of soccer in his senior year.

"What I learned from Brendan was to stop and appreciate my teammates," Brian said. "To get to know who they really are. I eased back from being so competitive at times to make sure I was a better friend.

"That was Brendan's legacy. Lacrosse is going to end. But those friendships continue," he said. "I wanted to form those same kind of friendships."

He did this as a way to wrestle down and control his own grief.

"It would have been easy to shut down and become an introvert," Brian said. "I think about him and what happened every minute. But I also think about who he was, and the impact he made in such a short amount of time.

"So you just have to live every day in a positive manner. You can't take material things past your deathbed. It's your impact on people and the friends you make that lasts."

From the very beginning of this journey into grief and recovery, Brendan's parents, Mike and Allison Tevlin, were determined to keep their family focused on the future they still had. They were determined to not let the killer take that away, too. Life can be long, too, and must be lived.

"We would not let ourselves become stagnant," Allison Tevlin said. "Trust me, I feel like I've been in a fog these three years. But we weren't going to let it take over our lives.

"That's not to say we grieve any less, or that it makes (his death) less tragic or difficult," she said. "But we were determined to move forward and do good things in his memory. For our family, life has to go on."

And they fight to keep it good.

Mark Di Ionno may be reached at mdiionno@starledger.com. Follow The Star-Ledger on Twitter @StarLedger and find us on Facebook.


Reward offered in Newark shooting that left boy, 6, and 2 men hospitalized

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Police said they do not have much information on a motive or suspects.

NEWARK -- Mayor Ras Baraka and Public Safety Directory Anthony Ambrose are offering $10,000 to anyone who has information that leads to an arrest in connection with the Saturday shooting that wounded two men and a 6-year-old boy.

Ambrose said on Sunday the shooting victims remain at University Hospital in Newark in stable condition.

The shooting happened around 5:45 p.m. at Central Avenue and 3rd Street, police said.

"We are looking for the public's help in bringing the individual(s) who committed this cowardice act to justice," Ambrose said in a statement. "There is no reason for these individuals to be allowed to remain free and we are offering up to a $10,000 reward through our Crime Stoppers program for information leading to an arrest."

Police said they do not have much information on a motive or suspects. The investigation is ongoing.

Police ask anyone with information about the shooting to call the department's confidential, 24-hour Crime Stopper tip line at 1-877-NWK-TIPS (1-877-695-8477) or 1-877-NWK-GUNS (1-877-695-4867). Crime Stopper tips could lead to a reward.

Anonymous tips can also be made at www.newarkpdonline.org or through the new "Newark Police Division, NJ" smartphone app. 

Alex Napoliello may be reached at anapoliello@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @alexnapoNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips

 

Woman assaulted in Newark has severe injuries, officials say

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The woman was taken to University Hospital in Newark, officials said.

NEWARK -- Authorities are investigating an early Sunday morning assault of a woman believed to be in her early 30s, officials said.

The woman received injuries that appear to be severe and she is currently sedated at University Hospital in Newark, according to Kevin Lynch, a spokesman for the Essex County Sheriff's Office, which is leading the investigation.

Lynch said the alleged assault happened around 5:41 a.m. near the entrance of the Branch Brook Park Newark City Subway on Heller Parkway.

The woman was discovered by a dog-walker, Lynch said. Officers with the Newark Police Department and Essex County Prosecutor's Office responded.

The investigation remains ongoing. 

Alex Napoliello may be reached at anapoliello@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @alexnapoNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips

 

Anti-violence rally to be held after boy, 6, hit by gunfire in Newark

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A 6-year-old boy and and two men were wounded by gunfire around 5:45 p.m. Saturday on the corner of Central Avenue and 3rd Street.

NEWARK -- One day after a young child was shot in the city, community members will gather on the streets to rally against Newark's gun violence.

The Newark Anti-Violence Coalition announced the gathering after authorities reported Saturday night that a 6-year-old boy and and two men were wounded by gunfire around 5:45 p.m. on the corner of Central Avenue and 3rd Street.

The demonstration will take place at 4 p.m. on the corner of Central Avenue and 3rd Street, where numerous cop cars lined the street the previous night. 

All three victims were transported to University Hospital, where they are in stable condition, police said. Authorities are offering a $10,000 reward to any tips that lead to the shooter(s)'s arrest. 

Most of the boy's family spent the morning and afternoon at the local hospital, a relative told NJ Advance Media. They declined to discuss the incident further. 

Earl Best, a community organizer known as the "Street Doctor," stood at the scene the following morning to pray. He spoke of the two people killed and five wounded in two separate shootings that took place in the city a week prior. 

"We have to look at the whole situation here. They shouldn't have even had a gun," Best said. "It's all the poverty."

The shooting involving the boy was one of three separate incidents on Saturday. 

Police said a man and a woman were shot at 11:23 p.m. on 7th Avenue and Stone Street. Two hours later, authorities said, three more people were struck by gunfire on Mulberry and East Kinney Streets. One victim is in critical condition. 

Avalon Zoppo may be reached at azoppo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter at @AvalonZoppo. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Newark police investigating 3 separate Saturday shootings

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The shootings left eight victims with non-fatal gunshot wounds, officials said.

NEWARK -- Police are investigating three separate shootings on Saturday that left eight victims with non-fatal injuries, including a 6-year-old boy, officials said.

The most recent incident happened early Sunday around 1:21 a.m. near Mulberry and East Kinney streets. Police responded after receiving a report of shots fired and found two women and a man with gunshot wounds, according to a statement from Newark Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose.

One of the women is listed in critical condition at University Hospital in Newark, Ambrose said.

Shortly before that, at 11:23 p.m., police were called to 7th Avenue and Stone Street, Ambrose said. Police found two shooting victims, a man and a woman, who suffered wounds that are not life-threatening, Ambrose said. They were both treated and released from the hospital.

A 6-year-old boy and two men are in stable condition at University Hospital after they were shot around 5:45 p.m. at the intersection of Central Avenue and 3rd Street, Ambrose said.

Mayor Ras Baraka and Ambrose visited the scene Saturday evening and are offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.

A candlelight vigil will be held for the boy, who is a city resident, at 4 p.m.

"These shootings are under intense investigation," Ambrose said in a statement. "No motives have been yet identified and no arrests have been made, but we are following active leads. Thankfully, each incident resulted in non-fatal injuries. The number of firearms that make their way to our city is pathetic."

Police ask anyone with information about the shooting to call the department's confidential, 24-hour Crime Stopper tip line at 1-877-NWK-TIPS (1-877-695-8477) or 1-877-NWK-GUNS (1-877-695-4867). Crime Stopper tips could lead to a reward.

Anonymous tips can also be made at www.newarkpdonline.org or through the new "Newark Police Division, NJ" smartphone app. 

Alex Napoliello may be reached at anapoliello@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @alexnapoNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips

Dozens rally against violence after 6-year-old shot in Newark

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Police blocked off a section of the street as protesters stood in a circle expressing outrage over the violence that hospitalized a child.

NEWARK -- A young child shot in Newark over the weekend drew dozens of activists to the streets Sunday evening in opposition to the city's violence.

The boy, 6, and two men were struck by gunfire around 5:45 p.m. Saturday on the corner of Central Avenue and 3rd Street, authorities said. All three were transported to University Hospital and are in stable condition.

But 24 hours later, the crime scene was transformed. 

Police blocked off a section of the street as protesters stood in a circle expressing outrage over the violence that hospitalized a child and sharing solutions to Newark's high crime rate.

Newark resident Viva White, who called national trends of urban violence "a public safety issue," said she was heartbroken when she read about Saturday's shooting.

"He did nothing wrong by walking down the street," said White, who moved to the city in 2001. "That baby has to live with that for the rest of his life, and he had nothing to do with it."

Chanting "stop the killing," community members and speakers blamed insufficient investment, poverty, unemployment and lack of personal responsibility as the culprits for Newark's violence. 

The shooting involving the child was only one of three that occurred on Saturday, injuring a total of eight people. Two of the incidents occurred hours apart.

"Until we solve the poverty problem and unemployment problem, we're gonna have crime," said Lawrence Hamm, chairman of the People's Organization for Progress. 

"There is a connection of this violence that involves individual responsibility," he added. 

Some expressed frustration that a suspect is not in custody. Police have offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest, but have not identified a motive yet.

In a statement, Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose praised the activists and condemned the number of weapons on city streets. 

"To strive for anti-violence means we seek other means of resolving conflicts than through the use of firearms and other weapons," he said. "Police need as many parters to fight crime. We can't do it alone."

The Newark Anti-Violence Coalition, People's Organization for Progress and Believe in Yourself were among the groups that organized the event. 

Avalon Zoppo may be reached at azoppo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter at @AvalonZoppo. Find NJ.com on Facebook

N.J. pets in need: July 10, 2017

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Helping to find homes for some of the state's pet population.

Summer heat comes in a lot of different levels. While we do everything we can to keep ourselves cool, it's important to remember our pets as well.

"If it's hot to you it's just as hot for your dog or cat, and probably even worse," said John Gickling, a board certified veterinarian in emergency and critical care. "We're better equipped to handle the heat because we perspire."

Some tips on making sure your pets can deal with excessive heat:

* If you walk your dog, pick the coolest time of the day, follow a shady route and bring water for your pet.

* Older pets, overweight animals and dogs with short snouts suffer more in high heat.

* If your pet is outdoors, make sure it has a cool place to lay and that water is always available. Avoid taking your pets anywhere that has concrete or blacktop until temperatures normalize.

* Dogs may be overheating if they can't get up, aren't alert or can't stop panting. If you suspect overheating, hose your dog off but never use ice water, which worsens the situation. If this doesn't work, a visit to a veterinarian is important.

Police fugitive team nabs armed robbery suspect in Newark

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Investigators had sought him in connection with a June 22 robbery, police said

Ken GunterKen Gunter. (Newark Department of Public Safety)
 

NEWARK -- A 20-year-old city man has been arrested in connection with the armed robbery of a mini-mart on Littleton Avenue last month, police announced Monday.

Detectives from the Newark Police Division's Fugitive Apprehension Team on Monday arrested Ken Gunter after developing evidence connecting him to the June 22 robbery of the Cash Money Mini Market, Public Safety Director Anthony F. Ambrose said in a statement.

Police said an armed man entered the store that morning and robbed its clerks of cash before fleeing on foot.

Gunter has been charged with robbery, unlawful possession of a weapon and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, according to Ambrose.

Thomas Moriarty may be reached at tmoriarty@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @ThomasDMoriarty. Find NJ.com on Facebook. 


Fare jumper caught with heroin, Port Authority police say

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Police said the man already had two active warrants for his arrest.

Kasim WilliamsKasim A. Williams. (Essex County Correctional Facility)
 

NEWARK -- A 46-year-old city man was charged with drug offenses and theft of service charges after Port Authority police say they caught him trying to avoid paying train fare at Newark Penn Station on Thursday.

Officers stopped Kasim A. Williams after they saw him walk through a handicapped access gate on Platform B, according to Port Authority police spokesman Joe Pentangelo. 

After a computer check turned up two active warrants for his arrest, the officers took Williams into custody and discovered a glass pipe in the tongue of his shoe and suspected heroin in his pocket, police said.

Williams was held at the Essex County Correctional Facility on the warrants, and charged with possessing heroin and drug paraphernalia, as well as theft of service and bail jumping offenses.

Thomas Moriarty may be reached at tmoriarty@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @ThomasDMoriarty. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

11 times United Airlines continued to make news in ways it probably regrets

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After apologizing for dragging a passenger from a plane, United has continued to have several mishaps

Better to get an early start as the 'summer of commuting hell' gets underway

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Nothing out of the ordinary on NJ Transit's 5:20 a.m. train from Morristown Watch video

MORRISTOWN -- On Monday morning, a couple of hours made a big difference for Manhattan-bound NJ Transit commuters.

The 5:20 a.m. train from Morristown was the second-to-last before commuters on the Morris & Essex lines were diverted to Hoboken due to the launch of a massive track project in New York City.

path.jpgCommuters finding their way in Hoboken on Monday 

It took about 70 minutes and arrived on time in New York Penn Station, and until riders boarded in Secaucus Junction -- the last stop in New Jersey -- there were plenty of available seats.

The limited chatter in one rail car did not involve any references to a project that will disrupt commuting patterns until Sept. 1, at least for those with trains scheduled to arrive in Manhattan after 7 a.m.

Fast-forward a couple of hours, it was a much different story. NJ Transit spokesman Charles Ingoglia said a "couple of small glitches" on Day One included the 7:22 a.m. train from Mount Olive that was one car short became overcrowded in South Orange.

At a more crowded than usual Hoboken Terminal, NJ Transit passengers used to commuting directly to Manhattan were scrambling to connect with bus, ferry and PATH options.

Bob Nace said he took a 7:57 a.m. train from Convent Station and, upon arriving in Hoboken, was seeking information on proceeding to Manhattan via PATH -- an unfamiliar route to him.

He said he was unsure whether all he needed to present was the ticket handed back to him by the NJ Transit conductor.

"So far, it's fine," he said of the commute, adding, "It's just that when you're not used to taking PATH, they're not explaining it." 

NJ Transit did have plenty of employees offering guidance, but Nace arrived around 8:30 a.m., when the morning rush was at it peak.

For those who got up early enough to catch the 5:20 a.m. train from Morristown -- one of four that still went directly to Manhattan -- avoiding the inconvenience will not last.

They will not have return service this afternoon and evening and, like those on the later-arriving morning trains, will have to get to Hoboken in order to reconnect with their NJ Transit train.

Rob Jennings may be reached at rjennings@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @RobJenningsNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook

Seniors graduate from SEEDS Program

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SEEDS' College Scholars Program bids farewell to the inaugural class.

ex0709schoolnewarkseeds.jpgJoselyn Jaramillo, a student at Technology High School and Rouwaida Nitiema of Newark Early College High School at the NJ SEEDS College Scholars Program graduation. Jaramillo will attend Bates College and Nitiema will attend Gettysburg College this fall. 

NEWARK -- NEWARK - Newark students were among the members of the inaugural class that graduated from the college prep program on June 10.

New Jersey SEEDS is a nonprofit organization that provides academic programs for high-achieving, low-income students. The organization launched the SEEDS' College Scholars Program in 2015 to help top-performing, low-income New Jersey public high school students prepare for college. Students enrolled in the free program attended Saturday classes beginning in the spring of their junior year, and spent the summer prior to their senior year of high school completing a three-week program at Hobart and William Smith Colleges in New York.

All 22 members of the program's inaugural class will be attending college in the fall.

"We could not be prouder of this inaugural class of College Scholars, " said John F. Castano, NJ SEEDS executive director. "Their commitment, tenacity and grit led to outcomes far beyond our already high expectations."

Honored at this year's SEEDS graduation were Melisa Aguila and Angel Castillo, John E. Dwyer Technology Academy, Elizabeth; Harneet Bahia, Navjit Kaur and Gurpreet Singh, Carteret High School; Karina Collazo, Raquel Rojas, Sabrina Suazo and Marvin Vargas, Union City High School; Anysha Hyppolite and Veronica Leitao, Hillside High School; Niyata Johnson and Thalia Mullings, Harrison High School; Joselyn Jaramillo and Gonzalo Saavedra, Technology High School, Newark; Isabella Pabon, Elena Pejovska and Lexi Tumblety, Roselle Park High School; Genesis Canela, American History High School, Newark; Rouwaida Nitiema, Newark Early College High School; Bryan Oliveira, South River High School; and Melanie Rosado, Bard High School Early College, Newark.

To submit school news send an email to essex@starledger.com.

58-year-old woman struck, killed, prosecutor says

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The woman was hit while crossing the street in Bloomfield late Sunday night, authorities said.

NEWARK -- A city woman was struck and killed in Bloomfield late Sunday night, the Essex County Prosecutor's Office said Monday.

Sylvia Santiago, 58, was struck by a Porsche Panamera as she crossed the 200 block of Bloomfield Avenue around 11:58 p.m., Acting County Prosecutor Robert Laurino and Bloomfield Police Director Samuel A. DeMaio said in a joint statement.

Authorities said the driver remained at the scene, and had not been charged as of Monday evening. The crash remains under investigation, according to the prosecutor's office.

Thomas Moriarty may be reached at tmoriarty@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @ThomasDMoriarty. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

 
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