2 Fatal Shootings Shatter Newark's Attempt At 24 Hours Of Peace

NEWARK, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A planned 24 hours of peace in Newark was shattered Saturday morning by more gun violence.

There have been more than 60 killings in the city this year and a rise in shootings this summer.

That's why leaders had called for a day with no gun violence with the program dubbed 24 Hours of Peace.

The day of peace started at 6 p.m. Friday and was supposed to last until 6 p.m. Saturday.

But a man was shot and killed on Jones Street and Springfield Avenue around 8 a.m., 1010 WINS' Roger Stern reported.

Police and the prosecutor's office are investigating, but so far they don't have a suspect or a motive. The victim has not yet been identified.

Then, more gun shots rang out about 2 miles away around noon. One person was killed.

The Essex County prosecutor's office said they don't know if the two shootings are connected.

One of the co-founders of the event, Mayor Ras Baraka's brother Amiri, told Stern that despite the shootings, the event was still a success.

"If we could save one life that's enough. We try to save everybody, but we know it's impossible," he said.

Activist Hakim Green said they're trying to be creative to stem gun violence.

"We want to evolve people. Evolution is needed in our community. We have to evolve people mentally, spiritually and in body," Green said. "So we put together a comprehensive program called 24 Hours of Peace that uses hip-hop culture as an attraction where we then share the core values of hip-hop culture, which is peace, love, unity and safely having fun."

The peace event was held on Clinton Avenue between Bergen Street and Osborne Terrace on Friday evening, the site where five people were killed in a gang war last August, according to city officials. The event was headlined by hip-hop artist Rakim.

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