Story highlights

Early morning shootings appear to stem from altercation between bouncer and gunman

Two of the dead are the New Jersey bar owner's son and a club employee

Identity of the third person killed not released; police say he was apparently an unintended target

Reward offered for information leading to suspect's arrest and conviction

CNN  — 

Three men were killed and two others wounded early Christmas morning in a shooting outside a New Jersey bar, according to the Essex County prosecutor’s office.

The son of the owner of Slick’s Go Go Bar in Irvington – identified as Pierre Clervoyant, 34, a resident of Elizabeth, New Jersey – and nightclub employee Woodley Daniel, 32, of Irvington, died after the shooting, authorities said. The identity of the third victim, who authorities said appeared to be an unintended target, was not released.

”It appears the gunman was trying to enter the bar armed and was stopped by the bouncer,” said Anthony Ambrose of the Essex County prosecutor’s office in a statement.

Two other men – a 27-year-old from Irvington and a 34-year-old from East Orange, New Jersey – were shot and wounded. Their identities and condition were not released.

All five men were transported to University Hospital in Newark shortly after 1 a.m., where Clervoyant, Daniel and the third man were pronounced dead.

The motive for the shootings was being investigated, but preliminary information indicated there was an altercation outside the bar.

The Essex County Sheriff’s Crimestoppers program is offering a reward of up to $10,000 to anyone with information leading to the suspect’s arrest and conviction.

Man known for elaborate Christmas display found dead in his home