- Authorities are investigating a fatal shooting near Maple and Chancellor avenues at 3:30 Wednesday afternoon.
It was the city's 63rd homicide of the year, authorities said.
Witnesses reported hearing at least five shots, breaking the calm in what several residents described as a normally quiet neighborhood near Weequahic High School.
The Essex County Prosecutor's identified the victim as Nyfee Harrell, 21, a city resident, who was pronounced dead at the scene.
Witnesses said after hearing the shots, they saw several people running in the vicinity of the shootings, which occurred near a corner store and a gas station. One resident said it was near a bus stop where a large group of young men frequently congregates.
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"You haven't seen anything like this in this area in a long time," one woman said of the neighborhood of wide, tree-lined streets and well-kept front yards near the Hillside border.
"This is a really friendly block," said another woman, who moved to the neighborhood a few years ago.
Paul Milo may be reached at pmilo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @PaulMilo2. FindNJ.com on Facebook