RUNNING FOR THEIR LIFE’: NEWARK SHAKEN BY SHOOTING THAT LEFT CHILD AND 21-YEAR-OLD DEAD.

Newark was forced to confront another night of terror after gunfire ripped through a residential block, killing a child and a 21-year-old man and leaving an entire neighborhood shaken, furious, and demanding answers. Witnesses described “pure chaos” — families diving for cover, kids sprinting barefoot into the street, mothers screaming for loved ones who never answered back.

It was a scene that Newark residents say they will never forget.

A QUIET BLOCK TURNED WAR ZONE

It happened just after sundown, when parents were calling their children inside and porch lights flickered on across the block. Police say multiple shooters opened fire between two residential buildings, unleashing a barrage of bullets that sent residents scrambling for safety. A child — too young to be caught in any adult conflict — was struck in the crossfire. A 21-year-old man, believed to be the intended target, was also fatally hit.

Emergency crews raced the victims to University Hospital, but both were pronounced dead shortly after arrival.

The child’s shoes, a pair of tiny sneakers, remained at the scene long after police tape fluttered in the cold air. Neighbors pointed at them as reporters arrived, whispering about how the city keeps losing its youngest to senseless violence.

‘THEY WERE RUNNING FOR THEIR LIFE’

Residents described a stampede of panic. People bolted in every direction, some crashing into cars, others hiding under porches. One witness recounted seeing a teenage girl trip and be pulled to safety by strangers who didn’t even know her name.

“They were running for their life,” said a resident who asked not to be named. “You don’t think you’re going to see a child get hit. You don’t think Newark is going to make you watch that.”

Another neighbor said the shooting felt like “a movie scene — except in the movies, the kids survive.”

Police spent hours combing the area for shell casings, surveillance footage, and potential witnesses. The shooters fled immediately, vanishing into the darkness before officers arrived.

A CITY RUNNING OUT OF PATIENCE

Newark has grappled with gun violence for decades, but this one — the death of a child — has renewed anger and political pressure. City leaders released statements condemning the violence, but residents say they’re tired of condolences and ready for accountability.

“We need to stop acting surprised,” said an elderly homeowner who has lived on the block for 43 years. “This keeps happening because nothing changes. Kids shouldn’t die on their way home from the bodega.”

Gun violence advocates echoed the sentiment, pointing out that the city has seen a sharp rise in youth-involved shootings and retaliatory street conflicts. Community groups who normally rush to crime scenes to calm tensions arrived late into the night, urging residents to cooperate with investigators.

But cooperation has historically been a challenge in neighborhoods where people fear retaliation — a fear that often keeps killers walking free.

FAMILIES FOREVER CHANGED

Authorities have not yet released the identities of either victim, but neighbors say the child’s family is “destroyed.” The child’s mother reportedly fainted when she learned the news, collapsing into the arms of relatives as detectives tried to gather information.

The 21-year-old victim, described as quiet and reserved, had recently started a new job and was said to be working toward “turning his life around.” His friends said he had been avoiding street conflicts, keeping to himself and trying to move forward.

“He didn’t deserve this,” said one friend, shaking his head. “He wasn’t perfect, but he was trying. And now he’s gone over nothing.”

A NEIGHBORHOOD DEMANDING ANSWERS

In the hours following the shooting, rumors swirled about what sparked the gunfire. Some said it stemmed from a personal dispute that escalated. Others claimed it was connected to a long-standing feud between groups in the area.

Police have not confirmed a motive.

Detectives are urging anyone with information or video footage to come forward. Surveillance cameras from nearby stores, doorbell cameras, and municipal CCTV are now being reviewed in hopes of identifying the shooters.

Mayor Ras Baraka called the shooting “an unspeakable tragedy that should enrage every single resident of Newark,” vowing that the killers would be caught. But longtime residents say they’ve heard similar promises before — and they’re bracing for another prolonged investigation with no arrests.