A mass shooting in Newark, New Jersey, on Saturday, November 15, 2025, left two people dead and three others injured, prompting an intensive manhunt for the suspects. The victims include 10-year-old Jordan Garcia and 21-year-old Kiyah Mae Scott, both of whom were pronounced dead at University Hospital shortly after the violence erupted around 7 p.m.
The shooting occurred on Chancellor Avenue near Wainwright Street, outside a liquor store near Leslie Street. According to Essex County Prosecutor Theodore Stephens II, two gunmen fired multiple shots at a group of people gathered in the area. Surveillance video captured the disturbing sequence of events as victims scrambled for safety.
Among the injured were Garcia’s 11-year-old brother, who remains in stable condition at University Hospital, along with Sheppard Miller, 60, who is also stable. Masi Rogers, 19, sustained more serious injuries and is listed in critical condition. All five victims were transported to the hospital for treatment following the attack.
As of two days after the shooting, no arrests had been made. At a Monday news conference, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka and other officials issued a direct appeal to the suspects. “It’s clear on what needs to happen, that these perpetrators need to turn themselves in immediately — before the sun goes down tonight, would be preferable — that you turn yourselves in as soon as possible,” Baraka said, adding that the community is on alert and working to ensure justice is served.
Essex County Sheriff Amir Jones delivered a stern warning to those responsible. “What you did was cowardly, heartless and unforgiveable. You shattered families and shook an entire city. You proved nothing but your own weakness. So hear me clearly, we are coming, there is no hiding, there is no running, there is nothing that will change what’s coming,” Jones said during the news conference. The Essex County sheriff’s office is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to an arrest.
Newark Public Safety Director Emanuel Miranda emphasized that his department will not rest until the perpetrators are caught. He described the scene at the hospital as heartbreaking, saying the cries of the victims’ mothers would stay with him forever. The investigation remains active, with officials urging anyone with information to contact the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office Tips Line at 1-877-847-7432. Tips can be submitted anonymously.
The community gathered Sunday night for a rally to support the victims’ families and express solidarity in the wake of the violence. Relatives of Jordan Garcia remembered him as a budding athlete who loved football. His death has particularly devastated his family, as his younger brother witnessed the attack and is now recovering from his own injuries.
Kiyah Mae Scott’s mother, Annette Ryan, spoke about her daughter’s vibrant personality and devotion to her young son. Scott had reportedly stepped out to pick something up from a nearby store when she was shot. Ryan described her daughter as outgoing, loving, smart and knowledgeable with considerable wisdom. She leaves behind a child who was at home when the shooting occurred.
Ryan faces the unimaginable grief of burying a second daughter, having lost another child to cancer in 2018. Despite her anguish, she expressed concern for her grandson and her determination to remain strong for him. When asked what message she had for the shooter, Ryan responded that everyone has family and warned that those responsible might one day find themselves in her position.
Mayor Baraka visited the victims’ families at the hospital over the weekend and spent Monday morning with community groups at Chancellor Avenue School. He described watching students leave their classrooms in tears as extremely difficult, acknowledging that while the city has worked tirelessly to reduce violence, incidents like this make clear there is much more work to be done.
Grief counselors have been made available at Newark public schools to help students and staff cope with the loss. Support services will continue to be offered throughout the week as the school community processes the aftermath of the shooting.
Both Stephens and Baraka noted that the shooting occurred against a backdrop of declining violence in Newark. The city recorded 81 homicides in 2022 compared to 38 so far this year, representing a significant reduction in deadly violence. However, officials stressed that even one life lost to gun violence is unacceptable.
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy issued a statement saying he had been updated on the shooting and asking for prayers for the victims and their families. The governor’s office is monitoring the situation as state and local law enforcement agencies work together on the investigation.
Authorities have not disclosed whether the shooting was gang-related or shared any information about a possible motive. The investigation continues as officials analyze surveillance footage and interview witnesses who were present during the attack. The community remains shaken by the violence that claimed the lives of a young child and a young woman with her whole life ahead of her.
