Authorities in Newark are searching for several suspects after a violent shooting inside a music-related workspace left two young men dead and two others injured late Wednesday night. The incident, which unfolded at a studio on Clinton Avenue, has shaken the local community and prompted renewed discussions about safety in businesses that operate late into the night.
Police say the shooting happened inside a ground-floor studio used for producing music videos. The workspace sits beneath a residential building and is surrounded by small local businesses, including a salon and a grocery store. The area is normally busy with both foot traffic and commercial activity, which added urgency to the police response when multiple gunshots were reported.
When officers arrived, they found four men suffering from gunshot wounds. Despite the quick arrival of emergency teams, two of the victims—both just 20 years old—could not be saved. One man died at the scene, while the second died shortly after at a nearby hospital despite the efforts of medical staff. The two surviving victims were treated for injuries described as non-life-threatening. By Thursday morning, officials confirmed that at least one survivor had already been released from the hospital.
Representatives from Platinum Sound, the studio where the shooting occurred, released a public statement shortly after the incident. They said the violence appeared to involve individuals who knew one another and insisted there was no sign of an outside intrusion. Their message suggested the conflict may have stemmed from a personal dispute among people present in the studio that night, though investigators have not officially confirmed what led to the gunfire.
During a Thursday press briefing, a spokesperson for the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office said early signs indicate the shooting was contained to the individuals inside the studio rather than a threat to the wider public. The spokesperson also noted that city leaders, including the mayor, were discussing ways to evaluate and regulate businesses that draw large groups or remain open late, especially in areas that have experienced previous incidents.
Local officials emphasized their commitment to improving safety standards in such establishments. They said they are considering stronger security requirements, better monitoring procedures, and clearer operating guidelines for facilities that host gatherings. As investigators continue searching for those responsible, the community is left mourning two young lives lost and hoping for steps that prevent future violence.
