NEWARK — Five people, including four teenagers, were arrested early Sunday morning after officers pursued robbery suspects twice on area roads, police said.

In one of the pursuits, a 13-year-old fired several shots at the pursuing police cars. An hour later, two 16 year olds were arrested and linked to more than a dozen alleged robberies after another pursuit.

The first pursuit began about 3:30 a.m. when officers from the carjacking unit were flagged down at the intersection of Springfield Avenue and Blum Street and warned about a Jeep occupied by masked people allegedly trying to commit robberies, said Det. Todd McClendon.

During the pursuit, a Newark 13-year-old allegedly fired shots back at the police cars before discarding the gun near 15th Avenue and South 7th Street, McClendon said. The pursuit continued until the car blew a tire and the three suspects took off on foot, and were quickly apprehended, he added.

Andre Morgan, the 20-year-old driver, the 13-year-old alleged shooter and a 16-year-old were arrested, McClendon added. All three were charged were receiving stolen property, possession of burglary tools, and resisting arrest – though Morgan was also charged with eluding police, and the 13 year old was also charged with aggravated assault on a police officer, unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and discharge of a firearm within city limits, McClendon added.

The second pursuit began at 5 a.m. after patrols began pursuing a stolen car that had been allegedly involved in a gun robbery on Mulberry Street, police said. The chase began on Avon Avenue, wound through the city streets, went into Hillside, and then headed back into Newark on Route 22.

The suspects bailed out of the moving car on Clinton Place near Hawthorne Avenue – and two 16 year olds, a girl and a boy, were caught after a quick foot chase, police said. The third suspect got away, police said.

Both teens were charged with receiving stolen property and resisting arrest, while the boy was additionally charged with possession of burglary tools, McClendon said. Both were taken to the Essex County Juvenile Detention Center.

One or both of the teens were connected to more than a dozen other robberies from ongoing investigations, police allege.

Samuel DeMaio, Newark’s police director, said he was outraged the ages of the suspects allegedly involved in the crimes.

“The face of our violent and habitual offenders is getting younger everyday,” DeMaio said. “It is very disturbing to see our youth engaged in this brazen and violent behavior… We must do a better job collectively as parents and a community to redirect our youth away from the ills of crime and violence.”

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