Investigators searched a Newark apartment building where they thought the suspect in the shooting of two Newark police officers was hiding, only to discover that the man was nowhere to be found.
Police have identified the wanted man as 30-year-old Kendall Howard of East Orange.
Police say he opened fire on the officers at around 2 p.m. in Newark at Van Velsor Place and Chancellor Avenue. They were trying to arrest the suspect for a different shooting, CBS2’s Kevin Rincon reported.
The wounded officers are recovering at University Hospital.
Cops were called to an apartment building after a resident identified a man linked to a shooting from last week. Officers searched through the building, didn’t find the suspect, and started to leave. That’s when they found him in the parking lot, and got into a shootout.
For hours, police from far and wide, including the FBI and ATF, kept residents locked down in their homes.
“It was horrible. At first, I thought it was firecrackers, but then, because it was so many, then I realized what it was,” witness Rosalind Reeves said.
Newark Mayor Ras Baraka said a resident called police after identifying a shooting suspect seen on a wanted flyer. Minutes later, officers were combing through the apartment building. As they were leaving, that’s when they found the suspect in the parking lot.
“The gentleman pulled a gun out, shot two police officers at close range. Gun shot was returned, fire was returned. The gentleman retreated back into the building,” Baraka said.
That’s what triggered the massive response. Officers on the ground, even on rooftops, kept their eyes peeled for the gunman.
The officers were rushed to the hospital.
“One was shot through the face into his shoulder. He was in the hospital, had surgery. He’s in stable condition. They’re keeping him overnight. The other officer was shot in the leg. He’s also in the hospital in stable condition,” Newark Public Safety Director Fritz Fragé said.
The suspect then ran back inside, but after nearly eight hours of searching, police came up empty handed.
“The perpetrator is not in the building. There is an active warrant right now for the perpetrator that’s out right now,” Fragé said.
“This remains an active investigation. We are asking for the public’s cooperation and participation in helping identify and locate Mr. Howard. But thanks to our federal partners and our state, county, and local partnerships, I’m confident that all necessary resources are being deployed,” state Attorney General Matthew Platkin said.
Meanwhile, many who watched their neighborhood turn into a crime scene are upset.
“How do they expect people and their kids to be safe around here after that? And he’s on the loose still?” one man asked. “If all of them couldn’t do it, somebody else might.”
“I’ve been standing here since 3:15 p.m. I’m angry and it’s sad that things like this are happening in this neighborhood,” building resident Victoria Emeghara-Owoo said.