5 people, 2 pets shot in Newark, N.J.

[Ban Hammer 14,293]

NEWARK, N.J. - Three people were shot to death and two others were wounded Saturday in what authorities say was a targeted attack at an apartment.

Police responding to reports of gunfire around 4:30 a.m. in the city's Vailsburg section discovered the three dead in the apartment, which was engulfed in flames. They had been shot multiple times.

Killed were Sandra Bellush, 42, a tenant in the apartment; Brielle Simpkins, 15, of Elizabeth; and Eric Jackson, 19, of Newark.

Police also found a 17-year-old boy and a 20-year-old man at the building, but it was not clear if they were in the apartment. They were identified only as Newark residents.

Both were taken to University Hospital. A hospital spokesman said the teenager was treated for a single gunshot wound and released, while the man, who was shot several times, remained in fair condition Saturday afternoon.

Authorities said they believed the shootings were carried out by more than one assailant. The victims did not appear to be blood relatives, they said.

There were no signs of robbery or forced entry into the building, a house that had been converted into apartments, Essex County Prosecutor Paula Dow said.

A dog and a cat were also shot to death, Dow said.

"This was a targeted attack by heinous individuals," Mayor Corey Booker said at a news conference. "This is Newark, New Jersey, and this is not acceptable."

Arson investigators think the fire was intentional, said Paul Loriquet, a spokesman for the prosecutor's office.

"They're quite sure the fire was set to cover up the shootings," he said.

The rest of the building suffered minor damage.

The shootings brought to 77 the number of slayings in Newark, a city of about 280,000.

Dow and Booker said the building had no history of drug activity. A former resident of the neighborhood echoed that assessment.

"It's not a drug area, a high-crime area," said Harcourt Lucious, who used to live a few blocks from the building before moving to nearby Irvington. "This is an odd place for something like this to happen."

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huh? the dog and cat too?

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Wow - we drove through there (our mistake) on friday night. Certainly not one of the most salubrious of neighbourhoods. You feel exposed when you stop at the lights and you don't want to make eye contact with anyone you see.

[Mirorgate 0]

huh? the dog and cat too?

Leave no witnesses... says so in the book... "How to be a proffessional Hitman"

[Reba 2]

unfortunately they probably just got caught in the crossfire

[Fandango 1,440]

That's a horrible horrible thing & I pray for their families.

Reminds me of summat that happened in Central FL years ago...and it was even on the news in England because it was so horrific.

http://www.wesh.com/news/9518952/detail.html

[Ban Hammer 14,293]

That's a horrible horrible thing & I pray for their families.

Reminds me of summat that happened in Central FL years ago...and it was even on the news in England because it was so horrific.

http://www.wesh.com/news/9518952/detail.html

interesting reading about that story:

Police said Victorino has previous convictions, including arson and aggravated battery, and he served time in prison from 1993 to 1993 and again from 1997 to 2003. (victorino is the main culprit in the case)

The suspects in the case were identified as Troy Victorino 27, of Deltona; Robert Cannon, 18, of Orange City; Jerone Hunter, 18, of Deltona; and Michael Salas, 18, of Deltona.

The victims -- four men and two women, along with a pet dog -- were found early Friday morning brutally slain inside a home at 3106 Telford Lane. Police have identified five of the victims, and they said a sixth victim was beaten so badly a dental reconstruction will be needed to identify her.

also answers if the police and 911 are effective:

Deltona murder victim Erin Belanger called 911 four times in the weeks leading up to the attacks, including two calls from the home were the six murders occurred.

another reason why the law abiding need firearms

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

That's a horrible horrible thing & I pray for their families.

Reminds me of summat that happened in Central FL years ago...and it was even on the news in England because it was so horrific.

http://www.wesh.com/news/9518952/detail.html

interesting reading about that story:

Police said Victorino has previous convictions, including arson and aggravated battery, and he served time in prison from 1993 to 1993 and again from 1997 to 2003. (victorino is the main culprit in the case)

The suspects in the case were identified as Troy Victorino 27, of Deltona; Robert Cannon, 18, of Orange City; Jerone Hunter, 18, of Deltona; and Michael Salas, 18, of Deltona.

The victims -- four men and two women, along with a pet dog -- were found early Friday morning brutally slain inside a home at 3106 Telford Lane. Police have identified five of the victims, and they said a sixth victim was beaten so badly a dental reconstruction will be needed to identify her.

also answers if the police and 911 are effective:

Deltona murder victim Erin Belanger called 911 four times in the weeks leading up to the attacks, including two calls from the home were the six murders occurred.

another reason why the law abiding need firearms

The police prescence is pathetic in NJ, compared to where we used to live in CA.

[ILIKEALLCAPS 0]

another reason why the law abiding need firearms

And......what if this was the work of a "well-regulated militia" just exercising their second amendment rights?

[Ban Hammer 14,293]

another reason why the law abiding need firearms

And......what if this was the work of a "well-regulated militia" just exercising their second amendment rights?

then obviously they are not well regulated eh?

[Fandango 1,440]

As per the Deltona case, they were all young adults....