A shooting in Elizabeth, New Jersey left at least one person dead Monday night, according to police cited by CBS News. The gunfire sent emergency crews rushing to a residential stretch near Irvington Avenue, where witnesses described a chaotic scene that by early Tuesday had drawn a heavy law enforcement presence and left as many as six or seven others wounded, according to differing preliminary accounts.
Conflicting Accounts of Where and When Gunfire Broke Out
Exactly where the shooting began remains unclear. abc7ny.com reported that witnesses said a large gathering had assembled for a vigil when gunfire broke out at Irvington Avenue and Oakwood Place just before 10 p.m. A separate account from rlsmedia.com placed emergency responders at Irvington Avenue and Elmwood Place, saying crews were dispatched to that intersection shortly before 9:45 p.m. after reports that multiple people had been struck by gunfire. The two reports do not agree on the precise cross street or the exact time officers arrived.
Adding to the uncertainty, abc7ny.com reported Monday night that authorities had not yet confirmed that a shooting had even taken place, even as video and witness accounts from the scene circulated. CBS News, for its part, reported that police said at least one person had died, a detail that station attributed directly to law enforcement. CBS News correspondent Dan Rice reported from Chopper 2 above the scene as the investigation unfolded.
Casualty Count Climbed as Crews Arrived
Preliminary accounts differed on the number of people shot.
Witnesses told abc7ny.com they saw upwards of 20 orange evidence cones scattered across the scene, a marker typically used by investigators to flag shell casings or other evidence.
Possible Suspect Fled in Red Sedan, Case Referred to Prosecutors
A possible suspect reportedly fled the area in a red sedan traveling westbound on Morris Avenue, per the rlsmedia.com report, though that detail carries only medium confidence and has not been independently verified. The investigation was referred to the Union County Prosecutor's Office, abc7ny.com reported.
Much about the Monday night shooting remains unresolved. No primary government or law enforcement statement has confirmed the final death toll, the number of people wounded, or the exact location where the gunfire erupted. The victims' identities, any suspect's identity, and the circumstances that led to the shooting have not been verified, and it remains unclear whether the competing casualty figures reported overnight reflect the final count. Hoodline will update this story as confirmed details emerge from the Union County Prosecutor's Office or Elizabeth police.
