In the late afternoon of a Thursday in Newark's West Ward, chaos erupted as a barrage of bullets shattered the September air. When the sounds of gunfire subsided, 21-year-old Hassan Smith, a male, lay grievously wounded. The incident unfolded just before 2:05 p.m. on September 6, 2018, in the 200 block of 14th Avenue, alarmingly close to an elementary school and a daycare center.
Emergency responders rushed Smith to University Hospital, where medical staff fought to save his life.
Despite their efforts, he was pronounced dead a short time later. The area, near West Side High School, was quickly cordoned off by police as they began their investigation. The nearby KIPP NJ Rise Academy elementary school was placed on a shelter-in-place status to ensure the safety of students and staff.
Authorities from the Essex County Prosecutor's Office took lead on the investigation into the fatal shooting. According to initial reports, several men in a 4-door vehicle, later identified as a silver Infiniti SUV reported stolen from Little Ferry, were responsible for the attack. Witnesses stated that at least four suspects were in the car and had indiscriminately sprayed the area with bullets before speeding away eastbound on 14th Avenue.
In the early hours of the following morning, police in Cedar Grove spotted a vehicle matching the description of the getaway car. When officers attempted to pull the silver Infiniti over, the driver refused to stop, leading to a pursuit. The chase ended when several occupants bailed from the vehicle and fled into a wooded area. Police managed to capture at least two of the three fleeing individuals. However, at the time, it was not confirmed if these men were directly involved in the homicide of Hassan Smith. The investigation into the motive for the shooting and the identification of all responsible parties was announced to be ongoing.
