UPDATED: Man, 29, Shot And Killed At Mission And Bloomfield

A 29-year-old Bloomfield man was shot and killed near Mission Street and Bloomfield Avenue on Tuesday night, according to Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray and Montclair Police Chief David Sabagh.

The Montclair Police and the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide/Major Crimes Task Force are investigating.

The victim has been identified as Ibn Futrell, 29. At about 8:59 p.m., Montclair Police responded to a report of gunshots fired in the area of 4 Mission St. They then discovered the 29-year-old man, later identified as Futrell. Although Futrell is currently living in Bloomfield, he formerly resided in Montclair.

Futrell was transported to Mountainside Hospital where he was pronounced dead at approximately 9:57 p.m., according to Chief Assistant Prosecutor Thomas Fennelly of the ECPO Homicide Unit.

The investigation is active and ongoing. No arrests have been made. No suspects have been identified at this time. Additional information will be released when it becomes available.

Early Wednesday morning, a law enforcement official who asked not to be named said the shooting appeared to be drug- or gang-related.

Fourth Ward Councilor Renee Baskerville told Patch that she was looking into the incident, noting she would be holding a public discussion, along with the NAACP, at 8 p.m. on Thursday at the Fire Headquarters on Pine Street to address "this most recent atrocity."

Both Township Manager Marc Dashield and a representative of the Montclair Police Department will be present.

Baskerville said she's sure that many people in the community will want to discuss the "most recent incidents of concern in their neighborhood on Mission Street."

Members of the NAACP said they want to talk Thursday night about the need for more community policing in the 4th Ward.

When asked about community policing, Baskerville said that she's been advocating nonstop to restore community policing for some time.

"I suggested to our operating budget subcommittee that if we have any funds for discretionary use, then community policing should be a priority," she said. "I have never moved from that position.

"We even allocated funds for community policing, but because of budget cuts those funds were used elswhere," she added. "The safety of our community is not optional or an afterthought in my mind!!! We must not have any more atrocities in our community."

In 2008, the township was forced by budget cuts to eliminate the police substation at Lackawanna Plaza, which served the Mission Street neighborhood.

According to the Montclair Times, police closed off Mission Street and were searching for evidence following the incident that occurred outside the Mission Mini Mart at about 9:10 p.m.

Homicides in Montclair are rare, with only one occurring last year. In that case, a 31-year-old waitress named Shazina Khan was found dead in her apartment near Glenfield Park last July. Her estranged husband was arrested in the murder.

The area around Mission Street in the 4th Ward is often the site of drug incidents and other crimes. It's also close to two schools—Glenfield Middle School and Charles H. Bullock Elementary School.

More information will be reported as it becomes available.