NEWARK, NJ — Two Newark men made their initial court appearances on March 9 on charges stemming from a Feb. 22 attempted carjacking in Newark during which a firearm was discharged, acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig announced on March 9.
Antwan Malone, 34, and Dawan Walker, 24, both of Newark, are charged by complaint with one count of attempted carjacking and one count of discharging of a firearm during a crime of violence. They appeared by videoconference before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark Falk and were detained.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court, on Feb. 22, law enforcement officers responded to the area of the I-78 West entrance ramp and Irvine Turner Boulevard in Newark on a report of an attempted carjacking with a weapon. Malone and Walker had allegedly pulled up beside a blue BMW M5 SUV that was stopped at a stop light and blocked the BMW’s ability to enter I-78. Malone allegedly approached the vehicle brandishing a handgun, then pointed the gun at the driver’s face while repeatedly ordering the driver to either exit the vehicle or be shot. At that point, the driver was able to escape by ramming the BMW into Malone and Walker’s vehicle and entering the I-78 entrance ramp. Malone reportedly fired two shots at the BMW.
The count of attempted carjacking carries a maximum potential sentence of 15 years in prison. The count of discharging of a firearm during a crime of violence is punishable by a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison, which must run consecutively to any term of imprisonment imposed on any other charges.
The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until found guilty in a court of law.
About the Author
