In the afternoon hours of a Tuesday in Passaic, New Jersey, tragedy struck a young man named Amar Sultan. The 18-year-old male was discovered with multiple gunshot wounds under a highway trestle at the intersection of Madison Street and Vreeland Avenue. The incident unfolded at approximately 2:12 p.m. on July 6, 2021, prompting a swift response from the Passaic Police Department.
First responders found Sultan injured and immediately transported him to Saint Mary's Hospital for medical attention. Despite their efforts, Amar Sultan was pronounced deceased at 4:45 p.m. that same day.
The investigation into the shooting was a collaborative effort between the Passaic Police Department and the Passaic County Prosecutor's Office. Community involvement proved to be crucial in the rapid progression of the case. Leads provided by the public helped authorities identify a suspect in a matter of hours. This critical information led to a significant break in the case, bringing investigators closer to finding the person responsible for the fatal shooting.
Later that evening, the efforts of law enforcement culminated in an arrest. At around 8:01 p.m., police conducted a motor vehicle stop in the vicinity of 91 Paulison Avenue and took 21-year-old Philip Sparrow of Passaic into custody. During the stop, a handgun, believed to be the weapon used in the shooting, was recovered. Sparrow was subsequently charged with murder, possession of a handgun for an unlawful purpose, and unlawful possession of a handgun. Following his arrest, the state filed a motion for pretrial detention.
