A violent shooting in Newark’s West Ward left 21-year-old Hassan Smith dead on the afternoon of September 6, 2018. The attack occurred just before 2:05 p.m. in the 200 block of 14th Avenue, an area alarmingly close to KIPP NJ Rise Academy elementary school, a daycare center and near West Side High School. Students and staff at the elementary school were placed on shelter-in-place while police secured the scene.

Witnesses reported several men in a four-door silver Infiniti SUV, later identified as stolen from Little Ferry, sprayed the area with gunfire before fleeing eastbound on 14th Avenue. Smith was taken to University Hospital but was pronounced dead shortly after arrival. The Essex County Prosecutor’s Office led the investigation.

Police later stopped a matching vehicle in Cedar Grove and pursued it when the driver would not stop; some occupants bailed and fled into woods and at least two were captured. It was not confirmed whether those detained were connected to Smith’s killing. If anyone has information about Hassan Smith or the September 6, 2018 shooting, please come forward.