Gunfight in Hoboken

I woke up to the sounds of a gun battle this morning. At 7am, about 20 shots were fired in front of my home in Hoboken, New Jersey. I ran to the window in time to see a Black Ford Explorer racing backwards down Park Avenue. I went outside to compare notes with two dozens of my neighbors. A single police officer arrived 15 minutes later. Meanwhile, an old Hoboken guy started examining the 15 bullet casings that were laying in the middle of the street, until my neighbors and I urged him to leave them alone.

Another crowd formed further up the street, where two parked cars had bullet holes in their windows. I wandered up there to find out what had happened. There were literally dozens of witnesses who saw either the Ford Explorer, or two guys on foot shooting back at them. The shots lasted about 30 seconds, so there was ample time to run to the window, and at least three people were on the street when the shootout occurred. But the police were only mildly interested in taking down any of the eyewitness accounts. It turns out that the Ford Explorer had been shooting at the two guys on foot, who were returning fire. The Explorer continued shooting at them as it backed down the one-way street (Park Avenue). One of my neighbors even saw the guy inside the car as he leaned outside the passenger window shooting at the other guys, who were now running north up the street.

You would think the police would be interested in details like this, but no. I walked up to a cop who was now blocking the crime scene around the two hit cars to tell him that I had pertinent information that might be helpful, but the guy just screamed at me to back off. I approached him from an angle away from the two cars with bullet holes, and let him know I had some possibly helpful information. I told him that I had a license plate number, and  asked if there was a detective I should talk to. This officer refused to talk to me, and finally just ordered me away from the scene. I wandered down to the other end of the street and finally found a cop who was interested in taking down my information.

Six hours later, the two cars with bullet holes are still sitting there, bullets presumably lodged inside of them. But there's no note on either car, no boot on the wheel to make sure that the owners can't drive the evidence away. Nothing. I guess because there were no known casualties, Hoboken's finest didn't really care to take eyewitness reports or even secure the bullets. This isn't supposed to happen in Hoboken. It's supposed to happen a half mile away, in Jersey City.

UPDATE: Three days later, the police blanketed my neighborhood with printed notices requesting any witnesses to call with information. I tried calling, but ended up in their labyrinthine voicemail system. Finally, I got through to a detective (four days after the gun fight) and gave him my information and license plate number.

Comments

[yragentman]

whoa, ken! I hope you approached the window low to view a firefight. Did that Explorer back up straight down the street at high speed? If so, that is some trick driving that takes training to do. Try it some time in a open parking lot.

how soon do we start calling Hoboken, Little Baghdad?

[john]

Park Ave and what cross street?

[Station Manager Ken]

The two gunmen on foot were around the intersection on Park between Tenth and 11th. The two parked cars with the bulletholes were at the intersection of Park and 10th. One of those cars (pictured) had a bullet hole in it's front window, suggesting that the bullet came from Park between 10th and 11th. The Ford Explorer was parked in the middle of Park between 9th and 10th Streets, and then backed down Park Avenue the wrong way and turned East on 9th Street.

-ken

[schwarz]

http://www.nj.com/news/jjournal/hoboken/index.ssf?/base/news-0/1139220825192060.xml&coll=3

the jersey journal picked up the story.

[Anonymous]

I live in Hoboken too and my first thought is that it was probably the police themselves in the gun battle. I wouldn't put anything past Hoboken's "Finest".

[isticon]

Article from the JJ

Gun and drug charges for Hoboken man
Monday, February 06, 2006
By MARTINA BRENDEL
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

HOBOKEN - A city man was arrested yesterday in connection to an early morning shoot-out in the uptown Hoboken neighborhood, that damaged several car windows but left no one injured, authorities said.

The shooting occurred along Park Avenue between Ninth and 11th streets at 7:19 a.m. yesterday morning, police spokesman Sgt. Mike Costello said.

Police believe a black Ford Explorer carrying four men pulled up to 9th Street and Park Avenue and opened fire on Jason Torres, 20, a Park Avenue resident who had reportedly been in a fight with the men earlier that morning at the Spa Diner on Hudson Street, Costello said.
Advertisement

Torres fired back while running north to his apartment at 10th Street and Park Avenue, witnesses told police. Police uncovered nearly 30 spent shell casings at the scene.

Police questioned Torres, who then surrendered his semi-automatic handgun, Costello said. In his apartment, police also found a box containing 900 clear plastic bags commonly used to sell marijuana, Costello said.

Torres was charged with unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for unlawful purpose, and fourth-degree possession of drug paraphernalia. His bail was set at $40,000 cash, which he failed to post. He went to Hudson County jail.

Costello said the investigation is continuing.

[Scott Delea]

Ken,
Thanks for the great report. I live right around the block from you. This is scary stuff. I don't want to generalize, but I am getting increasingly concerned about the Hoboken Police's apparent apathy and lack of public relation skills. I have had a number of reasons to visit the police station over the years and have consistantly found them to be lackadaisical. No sense of urgency. Complacent. They sometimes act like WE are the ones creating a problem by telling them about the crimes and expecting they follow up. I don't get it but it needs to change. The Police department has a tremendous duty (and opportunity) to be the face of the City of Hoboken. As citizens, we should feel like they are our best friend. Not someone we are bothering. I think Hoboken is one of the best Cities in America. I think we all need to do our part to make sure it stays that way and gets even better.

Scott Delea

PS.
Your post came up in my rss search on Hoboken, otherwise I never would have known about your site. Thanks for taking the time to post.

[from here]

I thought you were in Elizabeth, or is that the cover story?

[Station Manager Ken]

Nope, I live in Hoboken.

I wonder what happened to the other 28 bullets. There were only two cars with noticeable bullet holes. The other 28 bullets landed somewhere.

-ken

[mike]

Wow, this is practically in front of my old apt. at 9th and Garden. Scary.

[alice]

Ken, Were you a-scared?

Makes me not regret my move from 1114 Park to the suburbs a few months ago.