A 12-year-old was arrested with a 9mm rifle this weekend.
Young victims of gun violence in Newark are usually between 15 and 17.
And several teens were wounded and killed as five homicides in the span of one week rocked the state’s largest city.
As Newark Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose read the facts aloud at a press conference Monday afternoon, US District Attorney Craig Carpentino shook his head.
“You know, I have two kids, 9 and 11. I worry about them every day," he said after the news conference. “You constantly think about this stuff. And I think it’s sad that on top of it, families have to think about kids getting involved with gun violence.”
City and county officials discussed recent crime involving juveniles in Newark, which is eclipsing the fact that overall violent crime is at a 50-year low, Ambrose said. Attorney General Gurbir Grewal and Essex County Prosecutor Ted Stevens were among the speakers at the press conference who brought attention to the crime rates.
According to the city’s Department of Public Safety, crime in the city is down 12% in 2019, following a 19% reduction from 2017 to 2018. Shootings are also down 13%, a continuing decline since the 30% reduction since 2017, the department said.
Police have also taken 293 guns off the streets, including one that was linked to a homicide and 12 other non-fatal shootings, Ambrose said.
“We’ve had 50 summer days without a homicide,” he said. “There’s no victory lap, but I think it’s important. And it’s not just about the reduction, it’s about less victims.”
Newark has seen 34 homicides in the past year, 10 less than the city had at this time in 2018, officials said.
But the five homicides last week — which broke the summer streak and bring the total of fatal summer shootings in Newark to seven — still worry residents and authorities who want the violence involving children to end.
Officials did not release any more information on the murders, citing the ages of the suspects and victims, but said there are two people of interest in two cases. They also did not release more information on the 12-year-old arrested with a rifle.
Attorney General Gurbir Grewal said the only way to “truly break the cycle of gun violence in this state is to treat it like a public health crisis.”
Prevention, treatment and enforcement will further progress already made, he said, and New Jersey’s strong gun laws address some of the concerns residents may have.
Ambrose also noted many of the juveniles being arrested are “repeat offenders" and are on probation when committing other crimes. Several, he said, have stolen cars while wearing monitoring bracelets.
“When you start seeing this individual let out by juvenile court and they’re reoffending, I mean, really who’s fooling who? We’re seeing a major problem," Ambrose said, adding the officials are meeting weekly to discuss the crime and how to fix the system.
Grewal pointed to youth initiatives and allocating resources to similar programs, such as Atlantic City’s youth boxing program which was awarded a $65,000 grant in July.
“They learn the sport of boxing, but also have mentors to guide them through life. We can’t expect different outcomes unless we invest in these programs," he said. We need to give young people ways to break that cycle."
Authorities are still looking for information and urge residents to call CrimeStopped Anonymous at 1-877-NWK-TIPS (1-877-695-8477) or 1-877-NWK-GUNS (1-877-695-4867).
Sophie Nieto-Munoz may be reached at snietomunoz@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her at @snietomunoz. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
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