Linden police make arrest in shooting at Manga Lounge

Charlie Dwyer

Linden, NJ,- the London Police Department has announced they arrested a 27-year-old man in connection with the shooting earlier this month at the Mega Lounge.

During that shooting, two people were shot, a man and a woman.

Police today said Najir Paige, 27, is under arrest following a three week investigation into a shooting that occurred at a local bar earlier this month.

According to police, just after 2:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 6, 2022 Police responded to Menga Lounge, located at 1906 E. St. George Ave, on a reported shooting.


“Investigators allege that Paige was involved in an altercation at the bar. Following the altercation Paige reportedly exited the bar, retrieved a handgun from a nearby vehicle, returned, and fired multiple shots through the front door of the bar,” the Linden Police Department said in a statement today.


A 28-year-old man, along with a 24-year-old woman and a 23-year-old woman, were injured during the attack.

Paige was arrested on August 24, 2022 after members of Union County S.W.A.T., with assistance from the Linden Police Department, Union County Prosecutor’s Office, and Union County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Unit executed a search warrant at his residence in East Orange. He is charged with first-degree attempted murder, second-degree aggravated assault, second-degree possession of a weapon, and associated crimes.

“We welcome people from all over the area to come enjoy the many restaurants and businesses our city has to offer, but make no mistake; violent crime has no place in Linden and we will aggressively pursue those who disrupt the peace and safety that our community deserves,” said Police Chief David Hart. “I am very proud of the work that that our Officers, Detectives, and Investigators do each and every day to keep violent offenders like this off our streets.”

Paige is currently detained at the Essex County Jail pending an appearance in Superior Court. A second suspect, identified as 25-year-old Sharif Evans (pictured below), also of East Orange, is also charged for his role in the incident. Evans currently remains at large.

T

302133635_445962060898452_50253030473333

You appear to be using an ad blocker

Shore News Network is a free website that does not use paywalls or charge for access to original, breaking news content. In order to provide this free service, we rely on advertisements. Please support our journalism by disabling your ad blocker for this website.