Essex County Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens II and Newark Public Safety Director Emanuel Miranda announced today that an investigation is underway into a fatal shooting that claimed the life of a man in Newark in the early hours of Saturday, February 21, 2026.
At approximately 3:38 a.m., the Newark Police Division received a 911 call of a man with a gunshot wound outside a building on Lexington Street.
Responding officers found the victim, later identified as Jeffrey Washington, 62, of Camden, suffering from an apparent gunshot wound to the chest. The victim was transported to University Hospital where he was pronounced deceased at 5:15 a.m.
This is an active and open investigation. No additional information is available at this time.
The public is encouraged to report any information related to this incident by contacting the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office Tips Line at 1-877-TIPS-4EC or 1-877-847-7432. All calls will remain confidential.