Police Hunt For Answers In Newark Shooting That Left Imam's Son, East Orange Woman Dead
NEWARK, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) - Authorities have released the name of the second person killed in a Newark shooting that also left the son of an imam dead and three others wounded.
Essex County prosecutors say 28-year-old Shante Spivey of East Orange was among five people sitting in a parked car outside a restaurant on Springfield Avenue in the city's West Ward when someone approached them late Tuesday morning and started shooting.
It's not clear what sparked the shooting. Newark police officials say it appears at least one of the victims was targeted by the shooter, but they declined further comment.
The car's driver, 36-year-old Akbar Muhammad of Newark, was pronounced dead at the scene, while Spivey died a short time later at a hospital. The three other victims -- a 35-year-old woman and two men, ages 18 and 34 -- were hospitalized in stable condition with undisclosed injuries. One of the wounded is the restaurant's owner, CBS 2's John Slattery reported.
Muhammad is the son of Newark Imam Abdul Akbar, who declined to be interviewed Wednesday.
Muhammad's grandmother Jesse Nickerson told Slattery she had no idea why Muhammad was gunned down.
"I just break down and cry," Nickerson said. "Yes, he was a very good boy. ... He was a good grandson. Yes, yes! He love his Grandmama, and, oh, I love him, too."
Edison Acosta, who works a liquor store near where the shooting happened, heard the gunshots.
"Bam, bam, bam, bam, bam, bam!" Acosta described hearing. "It was probably like 10, 12" shots.
Newark police say they're at the early stages of the investigation and are trying to figure out who was targeted and why.
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