Police say a gunman opened fire on the 300 block of Chancellor Avenue around 7 p.m. Saturday.
NEWARK, N.J. — A 10-year-old boy and a 21-year-old woman were shot and killed Saturday night in Newark’s South Ward, and three others were wounded, after a burst of gunfire on Chancellor Avenue around 7 p.m., authorities said. The shooter fled and remained at large Sunday.
City and county officials said the victims were struck on the 300 block of Chancellor Avenue, a largely residential stretch near neighborhood shops and schools. The Essex County Prosecutor’s Office is leading the inquiry with help from Newark police. A second child, age 11, and two men, 19 and 60, were hospitalized in stable condition. The killings deepened a difficult weekend for the city and prompted pleas from leaders for the shooter to surrender as detectives canvassed the area for witnesses, surveillance footage and shell casings.
Investigators responded to reports of multiple shots just after 7 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 15, and found five victims, officials said. The boy and the woman were rushed to University Hospital, where they were pronounced dead later that evening. Neighbors described a rapid volley of gunfire that sent people ducking behind cars and doorways. By Sunday morning, yellow markers dotted the pavement — at least 17 by one count — as officers photographed evidence and combed lawns and stoops for bullet fragments. “Today was a dark and devastating day in Newark,” Mayor Ras J. Baraka said in a statement, urging the gunman to turn himself in and vowing that city and county agencies would “work tirelessly” to find whoever opened fire.
Authorities did not immediately release the victims’ names or say what may have triggered the shooting. The prosecutor’s office said the other injured victims — an 11-year-old boy and men ages 19 and 60 — were being treated and were expected to survive. Detectives are reviewing security video from homes and storefronts on Chancellor Avenue and nearby cross streets, including Leslie Street and Wainwright Street, and interviewing residents who were outside when the gunfire started. Crime scene technicians documented shell casings scattered across the block. Police did not say how many shooters were involved or whether any firearm had been recovered. As of Sunday afternoon, no arrests were announced.
Newark has confronted periodic surges and declines in violent crime in recent years while expanding community-based programs. The shooting comes as the city’s Office of Violence Prevention and Trauma Recovery continues outreach to families affected by gunfire. Lamont Vaughn, a leader with the office, said families were “absolutely traumatized” and that staff were assisting relatives at the hospital and in the neighborhood. The South Ward, which includes Chancellor Avenue, has seen targeted patrols and summer safety initiatives, but block-by-block incidents can still escalate when disputes spill into the street. Neighbors said the area was busy Saturday with people coming and going from local stores and houses as the weekend began.
Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens II said his office’s Homicide Task Force was managing the investigation. The Essex County Sheriff’s Office announced a $10,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest in the case. Detectives asked residents and businesses to share any doorbell or security footage from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Saturday and to report tips to the county tip line. Officials also said they would increase patrols through the area while canvassing for witnesses. University Hospital confirmed patients from the scene were treated there, and hospital security coordinated with police as family members gathered overnight.
Residents waking up Sunday found parts of Chancellor Avenue still cordoned off as forensics teams finished their work. A small memorial of candles and stuffed animals began to form near the block where the boy was shot. “We heard pops, then everyone ran,” said Gloria Martinez, who lives around the corner and came outside after officers arrived. “You never expect to see children on the ground.” Across the street, a shopkeeper sweeping glass from his doorway said he closed early after the shooting. “It was too many shots,” said Ahmed Saleh. “People were screaming and hiding behind cars.” Community advocates visited families to help arrange counseling and, if needed, temporary relocation for relatives shaken by the violence.
As of Sunday evening, the investigation remained active, with detectives awaiting additional ballistic analysis and medical examiner findings. Officials said further updates would be released as next of kin are notified and new evidence is processed. A news briefing could be scheduled if an arrest is made or if investigators identify a suspect. For now, police are focused on mapping the trajectory of the shots, collecting private video and verifying the timeline from 7 p.m. onward. The next anticipated update is expected once investigators determine whether the attack was targeted or random and whether more than one weapon was used.
Author note: Last updated November 16, 2025.