A 22-year-old man shot multiple times at the violence-plagued Terrell Homes public housing complex refused to cooperate with an investigation into the shooting
NEWARK -- Detectives are investigating a non-fatal shooting Sunday at a Newark public housing complex plagued by gun violence, but without much help from the young man shot, according to the city's public safety director.
A 22-year-old Newark man was shot "multiple times" at about 5:30 p.m., at the Terrell Homes complex on Riverview Court, off Chapel Avenue, said Newark Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose.
The victim was taken to University Hospital for treatment. But other than giving his name, age and address, he refused to say anything about the shooting, Ambrose said.
"He's not cooperating as far as who shot him," said Ambrose, adding that there had been two homicides and a half-dozen non-fatal shootings since January at the Riverview Court complex, which overlooks the Passai River
Ambrose said a shooting victim's lack of cooperation can indicate any number of things, from being acquainted with the assailant, or even a friend in the case of a mishap, to gang activity, to fear of further violence or retribution regardless of who did the shooting.
"We don't know if it's gang-related," Ambrose said. "We do know there was some type of party going on there."
A man was shot and killed at the Terrell Homes in March, after the daytime shooting of a 20-year-old man there on Jan. 4, in the city's second gun killing of the year.
Ambrose said a shooting investigation involving an uncooperative victim is in some ways like a homicide investigation, with detectives relying on witnesses and various sources of information other than the person shot.
Steve Strunsky may be reached at sstrunsky@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @SteveStrunsky. Find NJ.com on Facebook.