New Haven Man Shot At Cop In New Jersey, Sparked Massive Manhunt

NEW HAVEN, CT — A New Haven man was arrested Thursday for allegedly shooting at a New Jersey police officer and sparking a massive manhunt that ended in New York City.

Miguel Angel Villegas, 29, will be charged with attempted murder, kidnapping, unlawful possession of a weapon and possession of a handgun for an unlawful purpose, according to the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office.

Villegas exchanged gunfire with a Tuckerton Borough police officer at 10:22 a.m. Thursday. He was a passenger in a vehicle that had been stopped by police but fled. Shortly after the gunfire, the vehicle caused an accident and Villegas fled on foot.

The officer was not injured.

The incident sparked a manhunt involving numerous law enforcement agencies from New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut. Villegas was eventually captured at Penn Station at 8 p.m.

It is expected that Villegas will be returned to New Jersey to face the charges.

"This was truly a team effort," Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said in a Facebook post. "The public can rest easy tonight knowing the men & women of law enforcement worked through the day into tonight to bring Villegas into custody peacefully."