"mixed residential and commercial area." ??? That is not true this is a total residential area. Also it is not 'Tory Corner' bu the 'heights area' of WO. Terrible thing to happen !!!!

RIP Papi ! Yuh were trully nice !
My condolences to his family <3

We are very sorry for the loss of this young man on this Easter Weekend. Umm, I would guess the First Aid Squad left the scene without a siren on because the young man died at the scene. Maybe the patch should leave crime scene reporting to nj dot com?

Sea2river-nj.com doesn't report all crimes, I work in Newark and some shooting go unreported, they have repeatedly gotten information and names of victims wrong, yeah so it Newark but still, they rarely do on scene reporting, lay off the patch cause these are local residents who are reporting local crimes in their community. I got your back
Anton

Hey, let's lay off a few more Police Officers. Let the cancer keep spreading west. Way to go WO administration.

I know this could be taken incorrectly but it needs to be said. There is a certain ELEMENT moving into WO and making our neighborhoods filthy and unsafe. African Americans, Hispanics, Whites and many other ethnic groups have made West Orange a vibrant and viable place to live. WE SHOULD NOT STAND FOR THIS. It's not black thing nor a white thing. Its a good people standing up for what's right thing.

RIP Riq !!!!!!!! i cant believe that this has happened ! you never bothered anyone !!!!! You were such a great man ! you will be truely missed ...... Our blessing and prayers go out to your family !!!!! See you when i get there my dude !!!!!!

RIP FROM YOUR BOY G !!!!!! YOU WAS LIKE A BROTHER TO ME !!!! PRAYERS GO OUT TO THE FAMILY !!!!! YOU WILL BE TRULY MISSED !!!

Amazing story you guys, keep up the great work !

Please everyone, refrain from using profanity in the comment section.

I've lived in WO my whole life and frankly I can't wait to get out. Taxes are WAY too high and crime has been escalating since early last year. My son and his friends were mugged just over the line in Montclair and two of his friends were mugged and assaulted separately right here in our own town. The police department claims that there are too few officers to “hold back the borders” (a cop’s words, not mine) from other towns. Yes there are fewer but the ones we have aren’t doing their job. On top of it they’re a Mickey Mouse force, too young and inexperienced to deal with the public, so they spend most of their time parked somewhere playing Angry Birds on their iPhones.
But the problem goes back to Mayor McKeon (McStupid). Though never publicly stated it’s common knowledge and his lenient policies were geared toward avoiding a "racial disturbance." God forbid you offend someone, just let them go around and do whatever the hell they want. Well his ideas have backfired, one by one, and unfortunately the people of the town are in the line of fire – literally.
We can start all the Neighborhood Watches we want, but if they don't get beyond the Thursday night coffee circle and GET OUT THERE and WATCH, what's the point? Don't invite me to a meeting - tell me when the citizens are patrolling and I'll be there.

You're right, it's been escalating since 2009.

My God "Gary" seriously. For all we know someone could have registered your "screen name" and makes these inane posts using that as a cover. Just because you apparently have the "guts" to be "you" on the web it doesn't make your opinions any more valid or someone else's any less so. One simply wonders if you in fact have any other hobbies than haunting web forums.

Wow, sorry Gary, didn't know you were somebody. And I don't care about the "generally accepted data." Just because something had an identifiable source doesn't make it a True source. I know what goes on in my neighborhood, most of which isn't reported. That's the citizens' fault. But when it is reported and the police do NOTHING, that's their fault and you won't find it in your Uniform Crime Report. Have a safe and blessed Easter =-)

Gary, I'll sleep better knowing that you are protecting the town's online reputation as it slides into the abyss.

@ Dana: You wote: "I know what goes on in my neighborhood, most of which isn't reported. That's the citizens' fault. But when it is reported and the police do NOTHING, that's their fault and you won't find it in your Uniform Crime Report."

Well, if there were any truth to any of this, if I were you, I'd damn sure be doing something about: complaining to the Chief of Police, starting a Neighborhood Watch Group and screaming at the top of my lungs at a Township Council Meeting.

Instead, the only action you're taking is to anonymously post nonsense on an Internet message board. That tells me your credibility is questionable and I'll continue to rely on the accuracy of the FBI's Uniform Crime Reports until such time as they are proven otherwise.

LOL, you do that Gary ;-) Portmanteau, you're awesome!

I live in the neighborhood and we have been and are working with the PD: The PD has been nothing but supportive in all the efforts of this community and we will continue working with them and the town council/mayor fixing this situation.

If you live in The heights and are interested in the issue join our FB page http://www.facebook.com/addy516?sk=info#!/group.php?gid=132423274471

We will not stop until stuff like this stops happening here in our neighborhood. Noone in WO should be ok with this where ever they live.

Thanks Michelle. I do know that THIS mayor is trying to get a handle on things.

Michelle, that doesn't seem to be the right link.

Hrm ... it should be working. http://www.facebook.com/addy516?sk=info#!/group.php?gid=132423274471

You can email me directly otherwise thecadeaus@verizon.net

try this. http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=132423274471#!/group.php?gid=132423274471&v=wall

See Gary what you don't understand is how liberating the web is in the sense that not everyone uses it for butt-kissing and coddling the local politicos. People can choose a name and express themselves freely with the ID. It is AWESOME!!! It is fun and if you read for content, educational.

@ Portmanteau: There's nothing educational about content based on misninformation and ingorance and fidning anonymous slander of real human beings abhorent, and saying so isn't butt kissing or coddling anyone.I also note that people wh actually get off their asses and contribute t the greater good (like Michelle Cadeau) feel no need t hide behind a screen name.

We are really off topic here Gary, but I find you to be a very nice person with good intentions. You should feel proud of your service, but also open your eyes to the reality of West Orange life.

I'll bet you were a name tag wherever you go Gary. Congrats. You ARE Gary. Yes. We have established that.

Just out of curiosity why do some people get so upset when someone else has an opinion? I’m not changing mine, that’s it. They shouldn’t care. I certainly don’t care if they change theirs. With that…I have a life with real people offline, so I’m going to get to it and say no more. God bless you all, and God, bless America.

Bottom line is a young man is dead and YOU people are arguing about the same silly cr@p on every report. What a shame....Cops are this...administration that...Mr. Englert throws the BOVINE word out there...screen name yadda yadda.

Poor boy isn't even in the ground yet and the "Usual Suspects" are already posting their inane banter.

My prayers go out to the family. Especially on a day like today.

@ Sandman: Posting your condolences, announcing you pray and revere Easter (all anonymously on an Internet message board) is as inane as anything else written here.

The senseless loss of life and the tragedy was apparent to all from the first report and condolences are best delivered personally.

You wanted it Mr. Englert..here I come!
I am Sergeant Michael Mastras. I am a 17 year veteran of this so called Mickey Mouse police force as Dana has so dubbed us. I am highly offended by her statements. Though some of our officers are young, they are by no means inexperienced and are highly trained both through the Academy as well as additional classes and first hand experiences on the job. You learn to think fast and on your feet sometimes. I trust young officers like Jiroux, Bell, Cassels and the Krimmel brothers as well as experienced officers Jacksic, Faraone, Rippon and Berkery with MY life and yours.
I work with great men and women who at the crack of the radio (as Sergeant Bolen stated in a different thread) are ready willing and able...to possibly lay down their lives for you and your families. If you see officers sitting in an area maybe you should take into consideration WE do not get scheduled lunches, breaks or down time. That 10 minutes you see an officer in a lot may be him either destressing from a hot call, having a coffee, or trying to scarf down a meal between radio transmissions. Can't tell you how many meals went flying off my seat or dash when that radio call came out. We continue to Protect and Serve. Always!

FYI I will continue to pray whether its behind a screen name or not. And I have had to give my condolences to far too many families in the last 17 years so dont preach to me in that matter.

This is terrible I lived in E Orange most of my life the crime is out of control .I moved out and glad I did.

Thanks Mike 4 identifying yourself. I hope there are no repercussions for being so brave

There was no money taken, no liquor, nothing that would indicate this was a robbery.

It wasn't gang related.

Maybe the shooting had something to do with this store that looked like a liquor store was really a DRUG STORE?

Drug related?

@downthehill.....bravery has nothing to do with it. I am still proud every day I put on that uniform, and even prouder of the job I do and the men and women I work with. To hear the people I/WE have worked so hard to try and protect badmouth us is disheartening. But WE (WOPD) will continue to be there when the $h!t hits the fan as our skin is thicker than that.

Currently I don't believe I violated any of the rules and regs/directives that are in place....but if I did I will take the "hit" for it.

I Lived in that neighboorhood until 2001. right on whittlesey avenue the third house in from chestnut street. That neighborhood was bad back then. It stinks that someone had to pay with his life for the town to open their eyes about this neighborhood. I can remember the store getting held up when the two ladies owned it.

In the early 1990's, we resided close to the vicinity of the liquor store, on Watson Avenue. We still reside in West Orange, but on the other side of the mountain. The neighborhood we moved from is a classic mix of Irish, Spanish, Italians, African-American, etc. everyone, regardless of race, get along just fine. But this killing of a store clerk is devestating. I can understand a robbery, but killing the clerk? My heart goes out to the family. I hope Michael that you and the boys find out who did this and that justice is served.

I always knew that place looked shady. I live about a mile from there and drive by quite often. There are always people just hanging out on that corner. One time a group stared me down as I drove by.
And why would someone drive all the way from Hillside just to work at a liquor store for probably 8 bucks an hour?

@ Michael: My ethnic background is German and Irish on my father's side and Italian on my mother's...and you're still far afield of the topic here.

@ Michael: From our limited exchanges here, I rather doubt you've compiled enough data to determine what I "want or expect out of our government."

While currently a registered Democrat (I've been a Republican, as well), I consider myself to be socially liberal and fiscally conservative and I don't simply vote along party lines but, for whom I happen to think is the best candidate.

I'm also rather pragmatic about out political system and theink these periodic swings between liberal and conservative thought leave us just about where we should be: at the middle of the road.

So I'm left to wonder how long the rest of Michael's off the reservation posts will remain before he deletes them?