A large-scale search was conducted Wednesday for a gunman believed to be armed and dangerous. shot and injured two Newark police officers Tuesday afternoon in an apartment in the city’s South Ward.
Officials at University Hospital in Newark late Tuesday said his condition was stable, with one shot in the leg and the other grazed in the neck before a bullet lodged in his shoulder.
The attacker, identified by police as 30-year-old Kendall Howard from East Orange, fled after officers opened fire. Officials said he was still free after an extensive search by local, state and federal authorities that partially closed part of the state’s largest city on Tuesday.
Authorities said Howard was considered armed and dangerous, and anyone who saw him should call 911 immediately. Authorities said he was about 1.80 meters tall, 190 kilos with brown eyes and a tattoo on his neck that said “FEATHER”.
Essex County Prosecutor’s Office said Howard was charged with two counts of attempted murder and two gun counts.
On Wednesday morning, Essex County Sheriff’s Crime Stoppers said it was offering a $25,000 reward for information leading to the arrest. The United States Marshalls Service added another $5,000 to bring the total award to $5,000.
Authorities said the incident began to come to light around 1pm when a resident called Newark police about a departmental flyer about a shooting fired on Friday.
15
Officials say 2 Newark police officers were shot by gunman (PHOTOS)
The caller reported seeing the person in the brochure in an apartment near the intersection of Van Velsor Place and Chancellor Avenue.
Officials said two uniformed officers came into the building and saw Howard.
“They stopped him to talk to him and identify him, and a violent interaction ensued,” Acting Essex County Prosecutor Theodore Stephens told reporters.
Kendall Howard is charged with attempted murder after shooting two Newark police officers on Tuesday. Still being sought.Essex County Prosecutor’s Office
Authorities claimed that after a brief argument, Howard pulled out his gun and shot two police officers at close range.
the streets in South Ward neighborhood closed to traffic for hours and residents were asked to leave the building where the fire took place. Schools in the region were closed for a short timebut he was dismissed in time, officials said.
A massive police presence created confusion and led to initial conflicting reports, including a gunman in the rooftop firing multiple shots into the street and shooting officers. It turns out that this is not true.
A man shot into the air around 11 am as he was walking east on the 100th block of Hansbury Avenue, in the incident that caused police to put out the flyer on Friday. Police searched the area and found an empty cartridge case.
The man was wearing ripped jeans, white sneakers, and a gray hoodie with the BMW logo on the front. He was carrying a blue bag on his shoulder.
Anyone with information about Howard’s whereabouts is encouraged to contact the Essex County Attorney’s Office at 1-877-847-7432 or the Newark Police Department at 1-877-695-8477. Calls will be kept confidential.
Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today NJ.com.
NJ Advance Media team authors SP Sullivan, Noah Cohen, Matt Stanmyre, and Richard Cowen contributed to this report.
