In the summer of 2016, a single act of violence cut short the life of Akbar J. Scott, a 42-year-old Black/African American man from Newark, New Jersey. On the evening of August 20th, Scott was found in the driveway of a residence on Irvine Turner Boulevard, the victim of a fatal shooting. The incident was one of three homicides to occur in Newark in a single weekend, a stark reminder of the city's ongoing struggle with gun violence.
In the aftermath of the shooting, which occurred around
9:45 p.m., the Essex County Prosecutor's Office launched an investigation. However, the search for answers and for those responsible proved to be a difficult one. In the immediate wake of Scott's death, no arrests were made, and no suspects were publicly identified. The case, like many others, was hampered by a lack of forthcoming information, leaving a family to grieve and a community on edge.
Years have passed since Akbar Scott's life was tragically taken, and the case has remained open. The investigation has faced significant challenges, a common narrative in communities where fear and mistrust can create a wall of silence. For Scott's loved ones, the passage of time has not diminished the pain of their loss, nor has it quieted their hope for a resolution that will finally bring a measure of justice for his untimely death.
