14-year-old charged in New Jersey shooting: One police officer dead, another injured
Shooting in Newark, New Jersey, left one officer dead and another injured. The incident occurred at Broadway and Carteret Street, where 18 shots were fired.
In a tragic incident that has shaken Newark, New Jersey, Detective Joseph Azcona, 26, was fatally shot on March 7, during an operation targeting illegal firearms. The alleged assailant is a 14-year-old boy, now facing charges of murder, attempted murder, and possession of illegal weapons.
The incident occurred around 6:37 p.m. on Friday near the intersection of Carteret Street and Broadway. According to authorities, Officer Azcona was still inside his police vehicle when the shooting took place, leaving him no opportunity to exit or respond.
Shooting in New Jersey leaves one officer dead
The incident occurred near the intersection of Carteret Street and Broadway, where Azcona was conducting surveillance related to illegal firearm activities. As he approached the scene, gunfire erupted, leaving him critically wounded. Despite being rushed to the hospital, Azcona succumbed to his injuries.
“He didn’t even get a chance to step out of the vehicle before he was struck,” Emanuel Miranda, Newark’s director of public safety, told in a news conference with Newark’s mayor and top prosecutor. Miranda called Azcona a “true hero.” Another officer was also injured but is expected to recover.
The tragic loss of Detective Azcona has deeply affected the Newark community. His mother, Martha Vargas, expressed profound grief over the death of her son, who had always aspired to serve as a police officer.
14-year-old suspect of shooting the cops
The 14-year-old suspect sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was apprehended at the scene. Authorities recovered an automatic weapon believed to be the murder weapon. The suspect faces multiple charges, including murder, attempted murder, and possession of illegal weapons.
Mayor Ras Baraka also spoke at a press conference on Saturday. “We just have to do a better job, I have to do a better job, our families have to do a better job, the community has to do a better job at making sure that our children are not handling guns in the street, shooting at police officers,” Baraka said. “This is not a police problem. This is our problem, is our collective problem.”
Authorities have not released further details about the suspect's identity or prior criminal history. At least four other individuals were taken into custody following the incident; their involvement remains under investigation.