Newark Man Wanted for Double Homicide

A 28-year-old Newark man has been identified as the shooter in a double homicide earlier this week that killed two city residents, including an innocent bystander, the Essex County Prosecutor's Office said.

Arrest warrants have been issued for Ahmad Manley, who has been charged with two counts of murder, conspiracy to commit murder and weapons offenses. Manley remained at-large Friday night and is considered armed and dangerous, according to Assistant Prosecutor Thomas Fennelly, of the prosecutor's homicide unit.

Authorities are also looking for a 2012 black Jeep Cherokee SRT with possible New Jersey license plates ZZ6495 that Manley used during the incident Monday, the prosecutor's office said.

Manley is the alleged trigger man in the double-fatal shooting Monday near the intersection of Turner Boulevard and Spruce Street.

According to the prosecutor's office, a Jeep chased an Oldsmobile Alero that crashed into another vehicle at Turner and Spruce at about 5 p.m. Monday.

Wesley Childs, 22, of Newark, who was one of four occupants in the Alero, was fatally shot, and Velma Cuttino, 43, of Newark, was a passenger in another vehicle who was also killed in the crossfire, the prosecutor's office said.

A 19-year-old Newark resident who was another occupant in the Alero suffered a non-life-threatening gunshot wound to the leg, the prosecutor's office said.

Once Manley is apprehended, his bail has been set at $1 million cash.

The incident remains under investigation and additional arrests are possible, Fennelly said.

Anyone with information can contact the Essex County Prosecutor’s Major Crimes Task Force at 877-847-7432.