The 14-year-old man was charged with attempted murder after a police officer was shot dead on Friday in Newark, New Jersey. WNYW-TV reported.
Another officer was injured, the station said. Five individuals, including a 14-year-old, were detained.
“We need to sharply surprise Laser at how this 14-year-old tries to find out why he was in a situation he was. He has a gun and feels he can use it against the police. It's a crazy situation.”
The Newark officer was shot dead at 6:30pm in the Broadway and Carterlett areas and took 26-year-old officer Joseph Azkona (5-year-old veteran) to a hospital pronounced dead Saturday morning. Azkona's family, including his five brothers, was by his side when he died, the station said.
Azkona and other officers were in the area to investigate a group of people who believed they had illegal guns, The New York Times reportedcited Essex County Prosecutor Theodore N. Stevens II.
Officers approached the group in a police car and were hit by a shooting, the paper said. Azkona was hit while still inside, Stevens told the Times, adding that other officers appeared to have been hit outside the patrol vehicle. The injury to the second officer is not life-threatening, the paper added.
Police were now trying to determine why the 14-year-old had a gun and thought it could be used against police, WNYW reported.
“We need to focus Laser Sharp on trying to find out why the 14-year-old was in his situation,” Stevens said at a press conference on Saturday, The Times reported. “He had a gun and felt he could use it against the police. It's a crazy situation. It's something that's not checked.”
Police have not released the name of the 14-year-old who was charged with possession of illegal weapons, or any other arrested individual, WNYW said.
“Newark Mayor Russ J. Barakha is the officer who got up yesterday morning to work and get out and make sure our town is safe,” according to the Times.
You can view video reports here About fatal shooting.
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