'GANG' GUN BATTLES - 'Infighting' may be reason for shootings

Wednesday, April 01, 2009
By MICHAELANGELO CONTE
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

The rash of shootings in the Greenville section of Jersey City that has wounded six people - including a 19-year-old who is clinging to life after several of his internal organs were ripped by bullets - appears to be gang-related, officials said yesterday.

"There seems to be some infighting going on within a couple of the gangs and there might be power struggles," Police Chief Tom Comey said yesterday. "We have increased our presence and will continue to do so until we can bring this to closure. We think we are on the right track to bringing this to a conclusion quickly."

Comey expressed concern for bystanders in the areas of the three shootings that occurred last Thursday, Saturday and Monday. He said officers are scouring the city for a juvenile they believe is at the center of the violence, but declined to give more information about the boy.

Ward A Councilman Michael J. Sottolano, who represents much of Greenville, said he is appalled by the outrageous violence and said the shootings will be the main topic at tonight's meeting of Ward A residents and South District police brass.

"Hopefully the capture of three of them last night will lead to more arrests and bring this to a halt," Sottolano said.

Comey may attend the monthly meeting, scheduled for 7 p.m. at CREATE Charter School at Old Bergen Road and Greenville Avenue.

Hudson County Prosecutor Edward DeFazio asked the community to help police by providing information.

"The persons responsible for causing this wanton violence seem to believe they have some sort of license and are beyond control," DeFazio said. "Until we have public outrage against the people who are committing these acts, we are going to have a problem."

Arrested after Monday's 3:50 p.m. shooting of a 19-year-old Winfield Avenue man at Ocean and Winfield avenues was Gregory Casanova, 19, of Bergen Avenue at Dwight Street; Justin Nesmith, 18, of New Heckman Drive, and a 16-year-old Winfield Avenue girl, reports said.

Comey said officials are taking a tough stance in the shootings, resulting in the three suspects being charged with attempted murder, rather than aggravated assault.

Late Saturday, two men were shot at a deli at Neptune and Ocean avenues by a man with a semiautomatic weapon, reports said. Both victims were treated for wounds at the Medical Center and were expected to recover.

On Thursday, three teens - two 17-year-old boys and a 15-year-old girl - were shot at Triangle Park near Danforth Avenue and Old Bergen Road shortly before 5 p.m. All three survived the attack and refused to cooperate with police investigators. The girl was rushed into emergency surgery with a bullet wound to her stomach, reports said.

In another section of the city, 23-year-old Antwan Baisden was killed after being shot in the head execution-style at 3 a.m. Saturday as he walked along Summit Avenue toward Astor Place.

Residents duck and cover whenever gunfire erupts

Wednesday, April 01, 2009

Residents are tired of the crack of gunfire in the Greenville section of Jersey City, where six people have been shot since Thursday, many in broad daylight.

"Lately it's been crazy," said Vijay Dandue, 50, owner of the Healthcare Pharmacy at Ocean and Winfield avenues, across the street from where a 19-year-old man was gunned down on the sidewalk Monday afternoon.

"It's all drug violence. I seldom go out. My wife used to walk to the post office, but I told her don't go," said Dandue.

Liu Li, of the Sky Dragon Chinese restaurant on Ocean Avenue, is also afraid. The restaurant has several bullet holes in its facade from Monday's shooting rampage.

"It was just a moment and a lot of shooting," Li said. "He (the shooter) shot him right in front of the windows, and I ducked behind the counter.

"I didn't even have time to shut the windows," she added, referring to the thick bulletproof glass panes above her counter.

Caridad Oarrasco, owner of a nearby beauty parlor, is convinced she's lost business the past two years because of crime and violence.

"It's not safe," said Oarrasco, who locked her front door after hearing gunfire and seeing people running on Monday. The last time there was a shooting, she said, crowds of people rushed into her store for cover.

Wayne Bennett was taking in the sunshine yesterday at Triangle Park at Cator Avenue, where three young people were shot in a hail of bullets on Thursday.

"The kids are getting out of hand and every time they get out of school there's a problem," Bennett said. "I think some of it is gangs, but mostly it's just kids being crazy. It's getting out of hand lately."

Joyce Crews was also in Triangle Park yesterday afternoon, where she chatted with friends not far from where a police vehicle was posted.

"I'm out here because it's a nice day, and the police are out here," said Crews, who moved to Jersey City from Richmond, Va., six years ago. "I thought I was going to a better place, but it's the same."

MICHAELANGELO CONTE

newheights, i was in no way comparing that our Mayor (won't mention his name as per your request..LOL) to Guiliani...Guiliani, new how to govern and took accountability. People of Jersey City need to wake up and realize our Mayor should not be re-elected, it will be just more of the same, actually probably worse since he will have the job again and care even less about the citizens of Jersey City.

Please do not ever use Healy's name in the same sentence as Guiliani. The title mayor is all they have in common...It's like me comparing my high school football career as a QB to Tom Brady's career....

stani, Healy is the one boasting on the great job he is doing regarding crime. Can these crimes be prevented, well if you saw how Giuliani handled crime situation in NYC a much bigger city then Jersey City, than yes if Healy and his administration is serious about crime, then he needs to put troops of police on the street going after these criminals. I'm not sure who I'm supporting. I voted for Healy last time, however he has not proven he is serious against crime, only raising taxes.

There are sections of Jersey City that our Mayor should pull out Martial law....the Crime needs to be attacked, not dabbled in like Team Healy has done.

Quote:

I think by trying to pin this on Healy, you're actually creating some goodwill for him: no one without an agenda could possibly believe Healy could prevent something like this, so your comments look like a baseless political attack. So the real question is: who do you support, Healy or his opponents?

Yes. Its all Healy's fault.

stani, If Healy and his administration boast that crime is down, violence is down then Team Healy needs to be held accountable for all of these shootings that are involved the settling of scores too. There needs to be a Zero tollerance and get these gangs off the streets. If you want to boast, then back it up.

at least they are just killing each other...... luckily no innocent victims are getting hit.. its a shame but how many times do you have to read someone was shot or stabbed but dont cooperate with police to tell them who did this....the fact of the matter is they dont want police to know cause they or their friends will now go out and get revenge on them or one of their family members.. horrible horrible cycle....

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It sounds like all of these shootings involved the settling of scores. I don't think the police or the administration can do anything about this type of crime, except catch the perpetrators after the fact. About the only people who can do anything about this are a) judges who can give repeat offenders longer sentences and b) parents who can teach their children to resolve disputes in ways other than shooting each other.l

The JC school system should implement a program to teach these kids how to shoot more accurately.

It will result in more efficient shootings which in turn will lower (tax payer) hospital bills and avoid innocent bystanders from getting caught up the crossfire. not to mention it will lower the gang population in Jersey City.

another solution is to give these gang members more powerful handguns. these 9 mm just don't get the job done.

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That's an average of one shootout every other day....

With the only aim being to point out the failure of this administration and with no intent to rile up anyone, I must again point out that CRIME IS DOWN; HEALY SAID SO!

Well first off these three shooters - you know - were armed...

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Why exactly should the cops be commended for finding these three shooters!? It was broad daylight, there was a direct witness that pointed the cops in the shooters' direction, and they were only 2 blocks away. If anything, JC schools should be reprimanded for not teaching their students the correct way to commit a crime and leave the area. Maybe that's why the schools suck-so the cops' jobs will be easier.

? A man was torn up by bullets in a shooting yesterday afternoon in the Greenville section of Jersey City -- the neighborhood's third shooting in five days

SHOTS RIP UP MAN
3 suspects captured 2 blocks away

Tuesday, March 31, 2009
By KEN THORBOURNE
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

Yet another storm of gunfire erupted in the Greenville section of Jersey City yesterday, leaving a 19-year-old Winfield Avenue man clinging to life and three persons charged in the attempted killing, officials said.

The shooting started at 3:54 p.m. at the corner of Winfield and Ocean avenues, officials said.

Responding to the scene, police found the 19-year-old man on the ground with bullet holes in his back and leg, officials said.

Rushed to the Jersey City Medical Center for life-saving surgery, the victim lost a kidney, his spleen, part of his small intestine, and doctors had to operate on his colon, said Jersey City police spokesman Stan H. Eason.

Directed by witnesses at the scene - who performed first aid on the victim until EMTs arrived - police tracked down two adult males and a 16-year-old girl who were charged as suspects in the shooting.

The suspects were found hiding in the backyard of a Seaview Avenue home two blocks away. The identities of the two men were not available last night.

One man is charged with attempted murder and weapon offenses, while the other two suspects are charged with conspiracy to commit murder, Eason said.

At the scene, yellow cones marked at least 18 spots where spent shells were found. Police investigators could be seen extracting bullets from a street lamp and from the metal facade of a storefront.

It was the third shoot-out in the neighborhood since Thursday.

Late Saturday, two men were shot at a deli at Neptune and Ocean avenues, apparently targeted by a man with a semiautomatic weapon, according to police reports.

Both victims, one of them a 19-year-old resident of Arlington Avenue, were treated for wounds at the Medical Center and were expected to recover. The age of the other victim wasn't available.

On Thursday, three teens - two 17-year-old boys and a 15-year-old girl - were shot at Triangle Park near Danforth Avenue and Old Bergen Road shortly before 5 p.m.

All three survived the attack and refused to cooperate with police investigators. Shot in the stomach, the girl had to undergo emergency surgery, reports said.

In another section of the city, a 23-year-old Jersey City man was shot to death execution-style at 3 a.m. Saturday as he walked along Summit Avenue toward Astor Place.

An autopsy determined that Antwan Baisden, whose last known address was on Danforth Avenue, died from a bullet to the head, officials said.

Eason said last night police have made no connections between these shootings, but investigations are ongoing.

Police Chief Tom Comey credited his officers with the quick capture of the three suspects allegedly responsible for yesterday's gun rampage.

"The police have to be commended for their swift action in catching these three suspects who were positively identified by witnesses during this bold, broad daylight attack," Comey said.