A 14-year-old boy has been charged with murder for the fatal shooting of a New Jersey police officer on Friday evening.
A second Newark police officer was shot and injured.
The teen, who has not been publicly identified, fired 29 shots with an automatic weapon when police arrived to investigate if the boy and his friends had illegal firearms.
Detective Joseph Azcona, 26, was pronounced dead at the hospital.
“Five-year veteran Joseph Azcona was shot before he even had the opportunity to leave his police car,” Essex County Prosecutor Theodore Stephens said during a press conference on Saturday morning.
The incident took place near a McDonald’s restaurant.
“Shots were exchanged upon the interaction with the police and those individuals, and unfortunately two officers and one suspect were hit by gunfire,” Stephens continued.
“The officers involved are heroes.”
“We need to focus laser sharp on trying to find the reason why this 14-year-old was in the situation that he was — had a gun, felt he could use it against police,” Stephens said. “That’s a crazy situation. That’s one that cannot go unchecked.”
The second officer is recovering and his injuries are reportedly non-life threatening.
According to a report from the New York Post, five other individuals are being questioned by law enforcement about the incident.
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said in a statement:
“I have been updated on an incident that took place in Newark earlier tonight involving two officers that were shot. 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.”
