It was Christmas Day and what was supposed to be a festive night in Newark, New Jersey turned into a nightmare as two innocent kids who are barely in their teens were killed during a shootout between the still unidentified parties.

A 13-year-old girl and 14-year-old boy were fatally shot in an apparent double homicide, said Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray and Newark Police Director Samuel DeMaio. Another teen was critically wounded during the incident.

According to investigators, the shooting took place at around 10 p.m. Christmas night along 100 block of Schley Street. The teenage girl was with the teenage boy outside her house to take out a bag of trash along with her 7-year old brother who was not hit. The two victims were both pronounced dead at a local hospital before 11 p.m. Wednesday evening.

Parents of the two teenagers felt devastated seeing their kids in the crime scene, according to witnesses. One neighbor shared that she saw the father of the girl came out of the house and he was screaming hysterically.

Police are yet to identify the motives of the shooter and remain mum when it comes to the identities of the suspects.

With the latest incident, the number of homicide in the Newark surpassed the 100 mark for 2013, the first time the figures reached triple digits since 2006. Newark, which only has around 280,000 residents, recorded 107 homicides in 2006 and was able to limit the number to 99 the year after.

The Newark shooting came after nearby Irvington witnessed a fatal shooting in Slick's Go-Go bar. This incident, which also happened on Christmas, killed three people and injured two. According to investigators, the gunman opened fire when he was patted down by the bouncer.

The gunman was able to flee the scene right before the authorities arrived. A $10k reward has been offered for info of the whereabouts of the suspect who is now charged with triple homicide.