Newark New Jersey police arrested an East Orange NJ man who allegedly shot a person during a theft on a city street.

According to Newark officials, the suspect approached a 24-year-old man walking in the area of South Orange Avenue and Sunset Street in Newark, NJ. The suspect allegedly flashed a handgun while attempting to steal the victim’s cell phone.

When the victim tried to get away from the suspect, the suspect allegedly fired his gun at the victim. Afterwards, the suspect reportedly ran away on foot.

Detectives with the Newark Major Crimes Shooting Team looked into the shooting and quickly determined that the suspect was the likely culprit.

The suspect is a 39-year-old man who lives in East Orange, New Jersey. He was later located, and arrested, in Asbury Park in Newark, NJ. He faces a number of criminal charges, including aggravated assault, unlawful possession of a weapon, and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose.

If the suspect is ultimately convicted on the aggravated assault charges, he could be in store for significant penalties. As set forth by N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1(b), anyone who commits an assault with a deadly weapon like a handgun or knife can be charged with a third degree crime. A conviction for third degree aggravated assault could result in a sentence of 3-5 years in NJ State Prison.

After being arrested and processed, the suspect was taken to the Newark city jail.

To learn more about this case, check out the NJ.com article, “East Orange Man Charged in Newark Shooting on New Year’s Eve.”