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Responding officers had found Amar Sultan, 18, with several gunshot wounds on Madison Street near Vreeland Avenue shortly after 2 p.m. He'd been struck in the abdomen, responders told Daily Voice.
Sultan was taken to St. Mary's Hospital in Passaic, where he was pronounced dead at 4:45 p.m., Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes and Passaic Police Chief Luis A. Guzman said in a joint release.
A suspect -- identified as Philip Sparrow, 21, of Passaic -- was in custody hours later, Mayor Hector Carlos Lora confirmed.
The city Police Intelligence Unit and Detective Bureau, in tandem with the Patrol Division and Special Investigations Division united, "fielded leads directly from the community" that helped identify Sparrow, the mayor said.
He was taken into custody following an evening traffic stop during which police also recovered what sources said is the suspected murder weapon.
Lora confirmed only that a gun was seized.
"I commend our remarkable and professional police on their immediate response to bring this individual to justice," the mayor told Daily Voice Tuesday night. "It brings relief to our community after this horrific and tragic incident."
Lora also praised members of the public, who he said "worked with our Police Department to expedite this arrest and the recovery of a weapon. Justice is served quicker and our streets become safer [when that happens].
"Our prayers go out to the family of the victim," the mayor emphasized.
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