An evening that began with the joyful celebration of a child's birthday tragically ended in bloodshed on a Newark street, leaving a family to mourn the loss of a father of five. On June 26, 2016, Eric Bryant, a 44-year-old male resident of Newark, was shot and killed in the early morning hours. The incident occurred shortly before 1:30 a.m. in the two hundred block of South 6th Street, a typically quiet residential area.
According to family members, Bryant had just finished celebrating his child's birthday and had stepped outside with a 45-year-old female companion when the sound of gunfire suddenly pierced the night. Newark police officers were dispatched to the scene following reports of shots fired. Upon their arrival, they discovered both Bryant and the woman suffering from gunshot wounds. Both victims were rushed to University Hospital for medical attention.
Despite the efforts of medical personnel, Eric Bryant was pronounced dead at 2:01 a.m.
The female victim, also a resident of Newark, was admitted to the hospital and was listed in stable condition. The Essex County Prosecutor's Major Crimes Task Force, in conjunction with detectives from the Newark Police Department, immediately launched an investigation into the fatal shooting. At the time, authorities did not release any information regarding a potential motive or any descriptions of possible suspects. The investigation into the death of Eric Bryant was announced as active and ongoing, with authorities appealing to the public for any information that might lead to an arrest. To date, there have been no publicly announced arrests or identification of any suspects in connection with the murder.
