Newark Cop Fatally Shot In Car, 14-Year-Old Charged With Murder

NOTE: Read our update to this article here.

NEWARK, NJ — Authorities have identified the Newark police officer who was fatally shot Friday night. A 14-year-old was also charged with murder in connection with the death, according to Essex County prosecutors.

Joseph Azcona, 25, was part of a Newark police intelligence team that had gone to capture a suspect in an illegal weapons investigation when the officer was fired on in his vehicle, authorities said.

“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 a Saturday morning news conference with Newark's mayor and top prosecutor.

Azcona was a five-year veteran of the Newark Police Department. A second officer was also wounded in the shooting and was "fighting for their life," the New Jersey State PBA reported; however, prosecutors on Saturday confirmed the officer suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

Police took five people into custody, including the 14-year-old, who was charged with murder, attempted murder and illegal weapons possession. Their name was not released due to their age.

Authorities said the suspect was also shot and hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.

Authorities gave few additional details about what led to the shooting or what followed after police responded.

Witnesses said they heard a string of gunshots after they saw officers running down the street on a commercial strip between a McDonald’s and White Castle restaurants near the Passaic River.

Witness Randy Mejia told WCBS-TV right before he heard gunshots that he saw officers running down the street.

“It sounded like a car accident and it went boom, boom, boom,” Mejia said.

On Friday, Gov. Phil Murphy acknowledged the situation in a social media post.

“Please pray for these officers, their families, and all our men and women in uniform who put their lives on the line to keep us safe,” the governor said.

New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin said his office was “closely monitoring the tragic shooting.”

“Our law enforcement officers put themselves in harm’s way every day to protect our communities, and tonight is a painful reminder of the depth of the sacrifices they make,” Platkin said. “Please keep the entire Newark Police Department and the families of our officers in your thoughts as we pray for both officers shot in the line of duty tonight.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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