Newark police are investigating a shooting incident in which a police officer allegedly shot a suspect accused of trying to run over the officer in a motor vehicle.
The violent incident occurred during the early morning hours on Friday. According to law enforcement, the Newark cop pulled over the suspect’s vehicle on South 11th Street in Newark’s South Ward around 1:30 a.m. When the police officer got out of his patrol car and approached the suspect’s car, the suspect allegedly hit the accelerator and tried to run over the officer.
Fortunately, the Newark NJ police officer was able to avoid contact with the car and did not sustain any injuries.
While the cop was falling to the ground, he reportedly used his police-issued firearm to fire multiple gunshots at the suspect.
The suspect reportedly sped off and took himself to University Hospital in Newark, New Jersey. He went to the Newark NJ medical facility because he needed treatment for a gunshot wound sustained during the altercation with the police officer.
Hospital staff alerted local law enforcement, which sent detectives to the scene to investigate. When police officers looked at the suspect’s car, they allegedly discovered a bullet hole in a vehicle window. The car was found parked outside the hospital emergency room.
Detectives with the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office are currently investigating the shooting. It is very possible that the suspect will face aggravated assault charges for allegedly trying to use his motor vehicle as a deadly weapon.
For further information about this case, see the NJ.com article, “Newark Police Reportedly Shoot Driver Who Tried to Run Over Cop.”
