In the late summer days of 2016, just before the school year was set to begin, the life of 15-year-old Hanayah Woods was tragically cut short. On September 3rd, in Newark, New Jersey, a double shooting occurred in the 100 block of South 10th Street. This violent act resulted in the death of the young female and left another woman, aged 25, with a graze wound from the bullets.
Emergency services transported both victims to University Hospital for treatment.
Despite the efforts of medical staff, Hanayah was pronounced dead at 12:55 a.m. She had been a student at West Side High School and was a member of the school's dance troupe. Her family, who should have been preparing her for the upcoming school year, were instead faced with planning her funeral.
In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, the Essex County Prosecutor's Homicide/Major Crimes Task Force and the Newark Police Department launched an investigation into the incident. Authorities announced that no suspects had been identified and no arrests had been made. As the investigation continued, the Essex County Sheriff's Office's Crimestoppers Program offered a reward of up to $10,000 for any information that would lead to an arrest and conviction in connection with the double shooting. The case remains an active and ongoing investigation.
