A New Jersey teenager who allegedly shot and killed a Newark detective and injured another with 29 bullets caught his attention within an hour.
The 14-year-old tough guy's post was intended to threaten his rival, and moved a series of events that ultimately led to the shocking March 7th murder.
The teen left the house from around 5:50pm 40 minutes before the shootout. We met a friend at White Castle near Carterlet Street and Broadway.
In White Castle, he posted a video of a ghost gun that law enforcement sources said was later used to kill Detective Joseph Azkona.
“He flashed and we saw him show off his gun at a live Instagram live,” the source said. The weapon is equipped with a conversion device that allows one pull of the trigger to fire multiple rounds, sources say.
Law enforcement sources say the teenagers were firmly present on police radar for multiple arrests, including robbery and “other serious crimes.” Local police officers have worked with the Alcohol and Firearms Bureau and were already monitoring his social media when he posted the video.
“They watch the video, locate and respond to the location of the unmarked police vehicle,” the source said.
“They saw him walking with a group of children,” the source continued. “They want backup, another unmarked unit. They all get out of the car, identify themselves with the police, the kids turn around and start shooting right away.”
Azkona, 26, never did it from his car.
The five-year unit veteran suffered fatal injuries while sitting in a police car as other officers traded fires with the teens.
“They didn't know that [Azcona] The source said. “The backup officer found him. And they touched it at the hospital.”
The dead cop's partner was shot under his vest and had to remove some of his liver and intestines, sources said. He was released from hospital Thursday.
According to the Essex County Prosecutor's Office, the teenager has been hit by a leg and arm and is still hospitalized. He was charged with first-degree murder.
Azkona's partner, who has only been identified as Manny, spoke at Azkona's funeral last Friday at Newark Cathedral.
The boy's aunt claimed that teenagers have reason to induce hands quickly. Her nephew was “shot” the day before, so she had a gun on him in the first place.
Newark Police did not comment on the aggressive investigation.
She said her nephew said the officer was in an unmarked car, wearing a ski mask and drawing a shotgun. He fired fire at them because he thought it was a shooter the day before, she claimed.
When he was arrested, her nephew told the officer, “I didn't know you were the police,” the aunt said.
Law enforcement sources claimed that officers clearly identified themselves – and their shields were hanging around their necks and wearing bulletproof vests that told them “police.”
Her aunt said her nephew might also be dead.
“Do you really think a 14-year-old wants to kill a police officer?” she said. “He's been living at the age of 14. He's a good child. Now his life is over.”
The teens aren't in the gang, his aunt claimed, and instead denounced social media to make their children “false.”
His mother, Rabya Sawley, 43, declined to comment when she approached the post at home.
The boy's aunt calls the whole situation “terrifying.”
“My two families are in pain right now,” she said.
Law enforcement sources say they are nothing more than “devastated” Azkona's family.
“He was a really good police officer – a good guy,” the source said. “He really loved this job.”
