Driver Escapes Carjacking In Newark, Rams Assailants’ Car: Feds

NEWARK, NJ — A pair of men have been accused of trying to carjack a driver at gunpoint near an I-78 entrance ramp in Newark last month. The victim managed to get away after ramming their SUV into their assailants’ car and escaping onto the highway entrance ramp, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.

Antwan Malone, 34, and Dawan Walker, 24, both of Newark, have been charged by complaint with one count of attempted carjacking and one count of discharging of a firearm during a crime of violence, prosecutors said.

Malone and Walker made their initial court appearances Tuesday.

Federal prosecutors released the following details about the alleged carjacking attempt:

“On Feb. 22, 2021, law enforcement officers responded to the area of the I-78 West entrance ramp and Irvine Turner Boulevard in Newark on a report of an attempted carjacking with a weapon. They learned that Malone and Walker had pulled up beside a blue BMW M5 SUV that was stopped at a stop light and blocked the BMW’s ability to enter I-78. Malone approached the vehicle brandishing a handgun, and then pointed the gun at the driver’s face while repeatedly telling the driver to either exit the vehicle or Malone would shoot them. At that point, the driver was able to escape by ramming the BMW into Malone and Walker’s vehicle and entering the I-78 entrance ramp. Malone fired two shots at the BMW.”

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