A police officer was killed and another critically injured during a shoot-out in New Jersey, according to reports.
The two Newark police officers were shot while on duty in the area of Broadway and Carteret at around 6:37 p.m. local time on Friday, March 7, the Associated Press, ABC 7 New York, and CBS Newsreported. The police officers were transported to University Hospital in Newark, per AP.
A 14-year-old suspect is in custody along with “multiple suspects” in connection to the shooting, according to reports.
The 14-year-old suspect was also shot and injured in the incident, CBS News reported.
The president of the Fraternal Order of Police, Robert W. Fox, confirmed the death of one of the police officers in a statement on Facebook, writing, “[We] are saddened to announce that two brave, hero police officers of the Newark Police Department were shot in the line of duty this evening.”
Newark Police shooting.
Kyle Mazza/NurPhoto via AP
“One Officer has made the ultimate sacrifice, and the other is receiving treatment for their wounds at the time of this release … We will provide updated information as it becomes available,” he continued.
Witnesses of the shooting recalled seeing police “chasing” and “running” before hearing several shots during the incident.
Randy Mejia, who works in the area, told CBS News, “They were chasing, but I don’t know if they were chasing somebody. I saw maybe four cops on the way down toward the street. They were running down the street.”
Andrea Perez told ABC 7 New York, “There were 10 shots, I want to say. I want to say the whole clip basically. I just heard the gunshots and I thought it was fireworks, because people are always doing their fireworks, and then I saw a bunch of police come.”
Authorities are concentrating their investigation in an area located between a McDonald’s and a White Castle, ABC 7 New York reported. Police also retrieved a backpack as evidence in the shooting, according to the outlet.
Details of the events leading up to the shooting have not been released at this time.
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy wrote on X, “This is a rapidly developing situation. Please pray for these officers, their families, and all our men and women in uniform who put their lives on the line to keep us safe.”
The investigation is ongoing.
