Two men charged in Newark shooting spree make first court appearance

Four people shot in Newark drive-by shooting

Two alleged Bloods gang members made their first court appearance today in connection with a spree of violence last Friday that left two people dead and set back Newark's effort to promote its falling homicide rate.

Scott Banks and Nashon Brown, both 20-year-old Newark residents, pleaded not guilty to murder and other charges as they were arraigned before Superior Court Judge Peter Vazquez. He continued their bail at $1 million each.

The pair are accused of three separate shootings Friday afternoon that Newark Police Director Garry McCarthy said were linked to gangs and narcotics and were not random acts of violence.

Quadir Burroughs, 22, was shot and killed at 20 Ridgewood Ave. at 2:36 p.m. Five minutes later, a 27-year-old man was shot and wounded at Chadwick and Clinton avenues, and Angelina Evans, 24, was found shot to death at 174 Boyd St. at 2:45 p.m.

Brown was also arraigned today on a separate murder charge in the Oct. 18 shooting death of an East Orange man, Richard Kelly, 29, at the Zoo Crew Authentic Wear clothing store on Chadwick Avenue.

William Neafsey, an assistant Essex County prosecutor, said Kelly's slaying is believed to have been unrelated to the spate of shootings on Friday.

Comment by JUNE MARLEY on October 30, 2008 at 4:44pm: you niggas need to learn how to fight and stop killin our people over bullshit...i bet dem ignorant ass niggas feel stupid now ...it dark and lonely when you going down dat dusty road to do an asshole full of time.

Comment by MS.DIVA on October 30, 2008 at 6:34pm: yea my city real fuck up now. these pussy ass niggas gona do a lot of time.killin chicks in drive by what kind of gay shit is that.i hope they got lawyer money.

Comment by Raw Dawg on October 30, 2008 at 7:54pm: Drive-bys are the most gayist and cowardly shit ever. What happen to the ski mask and gloves? What happen to actually hitting the nigga you shooting at? What's the deal with just shooting innocent people? Niggas need to grow balls- if you gonna get a nigga than get him AND only him.........

Comment by mario on October 31, 2008 at 4:58am: see niggas like u do 10 year bids....miss the nigga u want.....and murder innocent kids

Comment by grownbootytube on October 31, 2008 at 10:27am: lock these assholes up for life

Comment by Terrence Jones on October 31, 2008 at 1:14pm: chadwick and bergen niggas go 2 hard!!! That's DTH (down the hill)! ZOO CREW FOR LIFE!! HARRIS FAMILLY!! IT"S SAD BUT IT IS WHAT IT IS !!!