A mass shooting in Newark, New Jersey on Saturday evening left two people dead, including a 10-year-old boy, and three others injured in an incident that has shaken the community and prompted urgent calls from officials for the suspects to surrender.
The shooting occurred around 7 p.m. on November 15 near the intersection of Chancellor Avenue and Wainwright Street. According to the Essex County prosecutor’s office, Newark police officers responded to reports of gunfire in the area, discovering multiple victims at the scene.
The two fatalities were identified as Jordan Garcia, 10, and Kiyah Mae Scott, 21. Both victims were transported to University Hospital, where they were pronounced dead. Three additional victims sustained injuries in the shooting: Garcia’s 11-year-old brother, Masi Rogers, 19, and Sheppard Miller, 60. The 11-year-old and Miller were both hospitalized in stable condition, while Rogers remained in critical condition as of Monday.
Surveillance footage captured the incident, showing a group of people outside a liquor store when two gunmen opened fire, discharging multiple shots into the crowd. The brazen nature of the attack, occurring in a public space during early evening hours, has intensified concerns about public safety in the city.
At a news conference held Monday morning, Essex County Prosecutor Theodore Stephens II described the weekend’s violence. “This past weekend was a dark weekend in Essex County, in general,” Stephens said. Newark Mayor Ras Baraka issued a direct appeal to those responsible, stating that the perpetrators need to turn themselves in immediately, preferably before sundown.
Newark Public Safety Director Emanuel Miranda emphasized the department’s commitment to solving the case. He recounted the emotional toll of responding to the scene, describing the sounds of grieving mothers at the hospital as something he would never forget. Essex County Sheriff Amir Jones delivered a stern message to the suspects, calling their actions cowardly, heartless and unforgiveable.
As of Monday, no arrests had been made in connection with the shooting. Officials from multiple law enforcement agencies, including state and federal authorities, are collaborating on the investigation. The Essex County sheriff’s office has offered a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to an arrest in the case.
Family members of the victims have been devastated by the loss. Annette Ryan, Scott’s mother, shared that her daughter had simply stepped out to pick something up from a nearby store when she was shot. Ryan revealed that Scott leaves behind a young son who loved his mother dearly. The grief is compounded for Ryan, who lost another daughter to cancer in 2018, making this her second child to die.
The Newark community rallied around the victims’ families during a gathering Sunday night, where relatives remembered Garcia as a budding athlete with a passion for football. The young boy’s death has particularly affected local schools, where grief counselors have been made available to students and staff throughout the week to help them process the loss.
Mayor Baraka visited the victims’ families at the hospital over the weekend and spent Monday morning with community groups at Chancellor Avenue School. He described watching students emerging from classrooms in tears as very difficult for him personally, both as a father and as the city’s mayor. The mayor acknowledged that while the city has been working tirelessly to reduce violence, incidents like this demonstrate that much work remains to be done.
Despite this weekend’s violence, officials noted that Newark has seen a significant decline in homicides compared to recent years. The city recorded 81 homicides in 2022, while this year’s total stands at 38 so far. This shooting represents a setback in what had been a positive trend for public safety in the city. According to Newark Police data, shooting incidents in the precinct where this attack occurred have decreased each year since 2022, with 33 reports of shots fired in the area during 2025.
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy released a statement saying he had been updated on the shooting and asked people to pray for the victims and their families. The governor’s involvement underscores the severity of the incident and its impact beyond Newark’s city limits.
The investigation remains active and ongoing, with authorities urging anyone with information about the shooting to come forward. Tips can be submitted anonymously to the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office Tips Line. Officials have not disclosed whether the shooting was gang-related or revealed any information about a possible motive for the attack.
Community members have expressed shock that such violence could occur in their neighborhood. Local residents and those who work in the area have described feeling disturbed and saddened by the loss of life, particularly the death of a child. The Office of Violence Prevention and Trauma Recovery has been providing support to affected family members who are traumatized by the events.