Info Sought in Mall at Short Hills Friday Violent Carjacking

Millburn Police are investigating a violent attempted carjacking that took place Friday night at The Mall at Short Hills. This matter remains under active investigation by the Millburn Police Department Detective Bureau.  Anyone with information should contact Detective Joseph Johnson at (973) 564-7017.

Nearby, Livingston Police are investigating a carjacking that occurred at the  when a suspect flashed a gun at a 44-year-old woman and took her Honda Civic at 8 p.m. on Tuesday.

Millburn Police happened to be on the scene investigating a shoplifting incident at Neiman Marcus and were placing that suspect into the patrol car when they heard someone “screaming hysterically for assistance from police,” Lt. Peter Eakley, Millburn Police Public Information officer, reported.

A 53-year-old man who was screaming was also bleeding profusely from head and facial wounds, Eakley said.

Police requested back up and gave first aid to the victim, who told them that he was returning to his 2011 BMW convertible in Lot J after shopping at the mall when without warning, a black male wearing a blue hooded sweatshirt approached him brandishing a handgun.

The victim told police that the suspect ordered him to give him his keys and to get inside the vehicle. When he refused, the suspect then repeatedly beat the victim with the handgun, striking him numerous times on the side of his head and face, Eakley said.

“As the victim screamed in terror, the perpetrator obtained the keys and ran in an unknown direction, never taking the vehicle,” Eakley reported.

The victim was transported by members of the Millburn-Short Hills Volunteer First Aid Squad to Overlook Hospital located in Summit, New Jersey and later that night released.

Despite an extensive search by the Millburn Police Department with help of surrounding police departments, the suspect was not found.