Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray and Newark Police Director Samuel A. DeMaio say a 13-year-old girl and a 14-year-old boy were fatally shot Christmas night. Both were pronounced dead at a local hospital.
They say a third young victim has been hospitalized in critical but stable condition.
The names of the victims have not been released.
The Star-Ledger newspaper reports that the shootings happened around 10 p.m. Wednesday in a neighborhood not far from Interstate 78 and Irvington, a neighboring city.
The shootings come after three men were fatally shot and two other men were wounded early Christmas morning at an Irvington strip club.
