Cop, Ex-Wayne Man 'Fighting For His Life' After Shooting: Police

WAYNE, NJ — A former township firefighter and a police officer in Fort Meyers, Florida remains in critical condition after he was shot responding to a call at a gas station in Saturday night, authorities said. Officer Adam Jobbers-Miller was reportedly fighting for his life.

Jobbers-Miller, 29, was "shot by an assailant" and rushed to Lee Memorial Hospital Trauma Center by a another officer, the Fort Myers Police Department said in a statement. Jobbers-Miller underwent emergency, life-saving surgery and was listed in critical but stable condition, Fort Myers Police said Sunday.

Jobbers-Miller remains in "critical, but stable" condition in the hospital, Fort Myers Police Chief Derrick Diggs said at a press conference Monday afternoon.

Diggs said Jobbers-Miller is "fighting for his life."

Jobber-Miller was shot while chasing a man, identified as Winser Desmaret, 29, who allegedly stole a cell phone from a group of young men at a gas station, Diggs said.

Police received a 911 call at 7:16 p.m. from someone near the gas station and were checking the area for someone who matched a description of the man, Diggs said.

At 7:19 p.m., officers found Desmaret near the gas station and chased him on foot. Desmart allegedly shot Jobber-Miller during the chase.

Desmart was apprehended and suffered an injury that was non life-threatening. He remains in police custody in the hospital, Diggs said.

Desmart will be charged with eight felonies, including first-degree attempted murder, upon his release from the hospital, Diggs said.

Fort Myers Police detectives are investigating the shooting.

Jobbers-Miller grew up in Wayne and had been a member of Volunteer Fire Company No. 2. He joined the Fort Myers Police Department in September 2015. Fort Myers is located in Lee County on the southwestern coast of Florida.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Police Officer Adam Jobbers-Miller and the Fort Myers Florida Police Department during this difficult time," a post on the fire company's Facebook page said. "Praying for a full recovery."

“Words cannot express the emotions running through the Fort Myers Police family at this time,” said Diggs. “Our department spent the night in anxious anticipation as our comrade and co-worker underwent lifesaving surgery. We are grateful to the many people and agencies who have expressed their support, to the medical professionals who rushed to save him and to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Florida Highway Patrol for their immediate assistance with this situation."

The Wayne Valley High School wrestling program also posted about the shooting, asking the community to pray for Jobbers-Miller and his family. The Miller family sponsors the Matt Miller Memorial Scholarship and been "extremely generous" to the program over the years. Miller was a former wrestler with the program.

Email daniel.hubbard@patch.com

Image: Officer Adam Jobbers-Miller, 29 (Fort Myers Police Department)