14-Year-Old Boy Killed in Newark, Is City's 10th Homicide in 10 Days

Mayor Booker announced a new anti-crime initiative Wednesday and vowed to step up patrols

A 14-year-old boy gunned down in the courtyard of a housing project in Newark Wednesday night was the 10th homicide in 10 days in New Jersey's largest city, authorities say.

The boy was killed at about 9 p.m. outside the Riverview Terrance housing complex. No arrests have been made.

Ten people have been killed in the city since Aug. 26, including a pizza delivery driver police said was robbed and shot.
 
Police Director Samuel DeMaio said none of the killings were linked, but the shootings weren't random. Two were domestic incidents, he said. All of the victims were targeted.
 
There has been no arrest in Wednesday's murder.
 
The spike in crime comes as Mayor Cory Booker has six weeks left in his campaign for a U.S. Senate seat.
 
Booker announced a new anti-crime initiative Wednesday.
 
"The spate of violence that our city has seen over the last couple of weeks is unconscionable and drives me towards both anger and sadness," said Booker, who spent Labor Day weekend campaigning throughout New Jersey.
 
Booker's Republican opponent, Steve Lonegan, has criticized Booker for not spending enough time in Newark while he chases national ambitions and not doing enough to curb crime.
 
"While Cory Booker is traveling the state and taking money from Hollywood celebrities, the people of Newark are besieged," Lonegan said Wednesday.
 
DeMaio said police will continue a summer increase of patrols in certain parts of the city, increase police overtime and beef up overnight patrols.
 
He said police will focus on suspects who could be involved in drug activity because at least half of the homicides since last week have involved people in the drug trade.
Copyright AP - Associated Press
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