A 14-year-old suspect was taken into custody on murder charges after a shootout with Newark, New Jersey police officers that left one officer dead and another hospitalized. The shooting occurred while officers were investigating illegal firearms in the city’s North Ward. Officer Joseph Azcona, a five-year veteran of the police department, was shot and killed in his patrol car. The second officer was wounded but in stable condition. The teenage suspect sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to the hospital for treatment. Four others were also detained for questioning.
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy called for prayers for the officers and their families, while Newark Mayor Ras Baraka condemned the shooting as a “heinous, callous disregard for humanity.” Officials expressed frustration at society’s failure to prevent a 14-year-old from possessing and using a firearm. Baraka emphasized the need for better efforts by families and the community to prevent children from engaging in such violent acts.
Newark officials and the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office provided limited details about the incident, including what led to the exchange of gunfire. The state attorney general’s office was monitoring the situation. The 14-year-old suspect was facing charges of murder, attempted murder, and illegal weapons possession. Officials stressed the need for collective action to address the underlying issues that lead to such tragic events.
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