Detective Joseph Azcona with the Newark Police Dept gunned down after 14 year old boy fired off 29 gun rounds. Cops had descended on Newark area in a raid following reports of illegal weapons in the area.
A five year veteran with N.J police was shot dead by a 14 year old boy, with the cop killed while sitting in his patrol car after the teen firing off no less than 29 rounds at the victim and another officer outside the car, Friday night.
Detective Joseph Azcona, 26, with the Newark Police Department, died at 2.34am, Saturday at hospital from his injuries after he was shot ‘before he even had the opportunity to leave his police car,’ Essex County Prosecutor Theodore Stephens said at a press conference on Saturday.
The second officer who also sustained gunshot wounds survived his ordeal and was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, prosecutors said.
Elite police team had descended following reports of illegal arms in Newark
Joseph Azcona, was part of a team of Newark police detectives and federal agents that had gone to capture a suspect in an illegal weapons sting when the officer was fired on in his vehicle, AP reported.
The blood letting came after the 14-year-old along with another four suspects suddenly engaged in gunfire upon police arriving at the scene following reports of possible illegal guns in the area.
Cops managed to secure one of the guns, thought to be the one used by the 14 year old, used in the shooting.
The un-named teen has been charged with murder, attempted murder and possession of an illegal weapon. He is currently in the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, according to Stephens.
News of Detective Azcona’s shooting death led to family and colleagues commiserating.
‘He has a lot of friends and a lot of family who loved him,’ Azcona’s mother said of her youngest to The New York Times.
‘We lost a true hero last night,’ Emmanuel Miranda, Newark’s public safety director, said at a press conference. ‘Our hearts are heavy, we’re leaning on one another for support.’
Why are kids firing at police?
The shooting began around 6:30pm near a White Castle and a McDonald’s in Newark.
The officers were in the area after getting a report there may be illegal guns there. In a chaotic scene, twenty-nine shots were fired at officers, sources told PIX 11.
Police recovered the automatic weapon the teenager used to fire at police, authorities said.
Not immediately clear is how the 14-year-old obtained the firearm used in the slaying along with what motivated the boy to shoot at police.
Before the deadly event, the accused teenager was hanging out with a large group at the fast-food outlets.
‘We need to focus laser sharp on trying to find the reason why this 14-year-old was in the situation that he was — had a gun, felt he could use it against police,’ Stephens told reporters.
‘That’s a crazy situation. That’s one that cannot go unchecked.’
Offered Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, in part, ‘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,’ Adding, ‘This is not a police problem. This is our problem. This is our collective problem.’
Azcona a five-year veteran of the Newark police force, was promoted to detective two years ago and assigned to an intelligence unit that was the ‘best of the best,’ Miranda said.
Authorities continue to investigate.
