Community Responds After South Ward Shooting With Renewed Focus on Safety, Support, and Action

On Saturday, November 15, 2025, a shooting on Chancellor Avenue near Leslie Street left three people dead and two others injured. The victims were a 10-year-old boy, a 21-year-old woman, and a 19-year-old man who later died at the hospital. Police say the 10-year-old and 19-year-old, brothers, were walking home around 7 p.m. when the shooting started.

This tragedy happened during a time when youth arrests and incarceration have gone down across the country, yet violence continues to affect many Newark neighborhoods. According to The Sentencing Project, youth incarceration has decreased by 75 percent since 2000, but racial and ethnic disparities remain. This means that even with progress, young people of color continue to face higher risks of violence and contact with the justice system.

Experts note that poverty, limited recreational options, fewer work or school opportunities, and exposure to trauma all increase the chances of youth becoming involved in unsafe situations. The Center for Law and Social Policy explains that many low-income communities lack afterschool activities and youth programs, which can limit healthy development and safety.

In the South Ward, community-led efforts have contributed to decreases in violence in recent years. The Newark Community Street Team (NCST), which focuses on crisis response, conflict mediation, and safe passage for students, reported drops in violent crime between 2021 and 2022, including an 11 percent decrease in Upper Clinton Hill and 19 percent in Lower Clinton Hill. These outcomes match broader citywide trends supported by community partnerships.

Even with these improvements, thousands of young people remain disconnected. A Chalkbeat study found that about 7,500 Newark youth are neither in school nor working. This raises the need for more programs that engage young people and help them avoid dangerous situations.

Another challenge came when the U.S. Department of Justice ended more than 373 public safety grants nationwide. According to Stateline.org, this cut removed close to 500 million dollars in funding that had supported violence prevention, reentry programs, mental health care, and other community resources. Many organizations in Newark had to scale back services.

The Survivors Assistance Network, an initiative of NCST that works directly with gunshot survivors, was especially affected. Director Chainah Williams explained that her entire department had to close after losing federal funds. “Due to the loss of funding, we had to dismantle our whole department. We laid off individuals and had to halt services,” she said. Williams stressed how important the work was for survivors. “For my department, we work specifically with gunshot survivors, who are fearful of cooperating with the police. Without local resources that we provide, they may not assist in identifying perpetrators and fully trust the police.”

When asked if there was any way to continue supporting survivors without funding, Williams gave a direct response. “No, not right now. We are going through a vetting process, and we are unable to refer individuals out to the people and resources they need.” She also outlined the consequences. “The number of lives are disrupted, support is being dismantled, departments are closing, survivors do not have people they can trust, and there is a heightened risk of violence, with no prevention.” Williams added that the work should never depend on unpredictable funding. “Doing this work should be a requirement. It should be something easily accessible and should be a form of human dignity, especially for our survivors.”

Following the Chancellor Avenue shooting, Mayor Ras J. Baraka released a statement urging the city to continue working together. “This is a vivid reminder that there is so much more work we must do. No one is exempt from doing their part to help and heal one another,” he said.

On November 24, more than 50 neighbors met with Mayor Baraka, South Ward Councilman Pat Council, Council President Crump, Council-at-large member Louise Rountree, and 5th Precinct Captain Wyhidi Wilson to discuss the tragedy and steps the community can take to prevent future incidents. Residents agreed to meet more regularly in 2026 to stay engaged and address ongoing issues.

A major idea introduced during the meeting was to shift from calling certain areas “hotspots” to “Hope Spots,” focusing on what residents want to build rather than only what needs to be fixed. The goal is to support positive change in areas like Bergen and Lyons where residents have raised concerns.

The events of November 15 show that even with progress, violence still impacts families in Newark. Long-term solutions will require steady support, strong partnerships, and continued involvement from residents, community groups, and city leaders. The community’s response in the days following the tragedy shows a shared commitment to healing, safety, and building a stronger future together.