Rhea Mahbubani

Man Gunned Down While Sitting in Car at Newark Shopping Center

A 28-year-old man on Saturday was gunned down as he sat in his car located in a Newark strip mall parking lot, marking the first homicide of the year for the East Bay city, police said.

Officers found the man, who had been shot in the head, in the passenger seat of a car that was still running. The crime occurred around 12 p.m. at Old Town Center at 36601 Newark Boulevard, police said.

The victim, who has yet to be positively identified by authorities, was a barber at a shop across the street from the shooting, according to witnesses. One witness said the man and his coworkers at the barber shop were a tight-knit group.

"I see them all cutting hair, and they're friendly to each other and they look really close," Robert Sanchez said.

Phil Lee, a restaurant owner in the shopping center, said violent acts such as Saturday's killing are unheard of.

"This is a little and quiet town," he said. "Stuff like this doesn't happen."

Police said the shooting was a not random act, but they did not release any other information.

Anyone with information regarding the shooting is asked to contact the Newark Police Department.

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