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2 Newark Police Officers Shot by Gunman on Rooftop, Official Says 2 Newark Police Officers Shot by Gunman on Rooftop, Officials Say
(about 1 hour later)
Two police officers were shot on Tuesday afternoon by a gunman perched on a rooftop in Newark, the largest city in New Jersey, a state official said. Two police officers were shot on Tuesday afternoon by a gunman perched on a rooftop in Newark, the largest city in New Jersey, law enforcement and state officials said.
State Assemblyman Ralph Caputo, who represents the city in the state legislature, said one officer was shot in the neck and the other officer was shot in the leg by a gunman firing a long gun from the roof of a building in the area. He said the injured officers had been taken to University Hospital in Newark. A law enforcement official said that two uniformed Newark Police Department officers were shot, one in the leg and one in the shoulder. Another official said that their injuries were not life threatening. The gunman remained at large on Tuesday afternoon.
State Assemblyman Ralph Caputo, who represents the city in the state legislature, said they were shot by a gunman firing a long gun from the roof of a building in the area. He said the injured officers had been taken to University Hospital in Newark.
“We don’t know what the end result is going to be,” said Mr. Caputo. “It’s traumatic. In this day and age you never know when something like this is going to happen.”“We don’t know what the end result is going to be,” said Mr. Caputo. “It’s traumatic. In this day and age you never know when something like this is going to happen.”
The police blocked off several blocks of Chancellor Avenue, a residential area of tidy homes and neat lawns, and emergency vehicles swarmed the scene on Tuesday afternoon. Several helicopters hovered overhead. The police blocked off several blocks of Chancellor Avenue, a residential area of tidy homes, neat lawns and yellowing maple trees. Emergency vehicles swarmed the scene on Tuesday afternoon and several helicopters hovered overhead.
Later in the afternoon, police slowly drove a military-style crane down the street past stately brick houses, with a shielded and elevated platform held aloft in front of it.
Mr. Caputo said the neighborhood, known as Newark’s South Ward, was “a nice area,” but that “in this day and age no place is immune to violence.”Mr. Caputo said the neighborhood, known as Newark’s South Ward, was “a nice area,” but that “in this day and age no place is immune to violence.”
The Newark Police Department made little information publicly available in the immediate aftermath of the shooting. The injured officers were not publicly identified, and no information about their condition was available. The identity of the shooter and the motive for the attack also were not known. The Newark Police Department made little information publicly available in the immediate aftermath of the shooting. The injured officers were not publicly identified, and no information about their condition was available. The identity of the gunman and the motive for the attack also were not known.
Barry Eisen, the manager of a building at 103 Chancellor Ave., said he got a panicked phone call on Tuesday from the building superintendent, who said he had seen a man he knew in the area with a weapon.Barry Eisen, the manager of a building at 103 Chancellor Ave., said he got a panicked phone call on Tuesday from the building superintendent, who said he had seen a man he knew in the area with a weapon.
“The super saw the rifle,” Mr. Eisen said.“The super saw the rifle,” Mr. Eisen said.
D’Andre Mentor, 23, was working from home in his apartment on Chancellor Avenue when he heard a commotion outside that made him run downstairs.
A few blocks down the wide, tree-lined street he could see what looked like more than a dozen police officers surrounding a building.
Suddenly, a car near the group of police burst into flames, but the police seemed to ignore it, focusing on the building in front of them, he said. A few minutes later, a fire truck came and extinguished the blaze, he said.
“You came outside and boom, it’s a whole standoff happening outside your house,” Mr. Mentor said. “Nothing like this ever happens here.”
Gov. Phil Murphy of New Jersey said he was “aware of and closely monitoring an unfolding situation in Newark.”Gov. Phil Murphy of New Jersey said he was “aware of and closely monitoring an unfolding situation in Newark.”
“I am in touch with local authorities and the State is providing resources as requested,” he said on Twitter. “We will continue to support local law enforcement and ensure that all residents are safe.”“I am in touch with local authorities and the State is providing resources as requested,” he said on Twitter. “We will continue to support local law enforcement and ensure that all residents are safe.”
The shooting comes amid growing concerns over crime and disorder in New York and across the country, although official statistics sometimes complicate those fears. The shooting comes amid growing concerns over crime and disorder in New York and across the country.
Crime in New York City approached record lows before the pandemic, and remains safer that at many times in its troubled past. The number of murders in the city is lower than in many other large cities in the United States, but crimes like burglary, auto theft, rape and felony assault have risen significantly in recent years. “This level of violence must be stopped and condemned by everyone,” Patrick Colligan, the president of the New Jersey State Policemen’s Benevolent Association, a union that represents more than 33,000 law enforcement officers, said on Twitter.
But official statistics sometimes complicate those fears.
Crime in New York City approached record lows before the pandemic, and remains safer than at many times in its troubled past. The number of murders in the city is lower than in many other large cities in the United States, but crimes like burglary, auto theft, rape and felony assault have risen significantly in recent years.
And crime in Newark has risen only slightly — 2 percent — since this time last year, according to statistics released at the end of October by the Newark Police Department.
That included a decline in violent crimes, including rape, murder and aggravated assault, but significant increases in all kinds of robbery and theft.
Federal, state and local law enforcement authorities were at the scene on Tuesday assisting the Newark Police Department, a law enforcement official said.
The shooting on Tuesday happened a short distance from Newark Liberty International Airport, a major gateway for travelers and commerce to the New York region.The shooting on Tuesday happened a short distance from Newark Liberty International Airport, a major gateway for travelers and commerce to the New York region.
Nearby, normal life seemed to continue despite the violence a few streets away. High school students filled the sidewalk after they were dismissed at the end of the school day. Not so high above the police tape and emergency vehicles, the roar of airplanes flying low into and out of Newark airport could be heard.Nearby, normal life seemed to continue despite the violence a few streets away. High school students filled the sidewalk after they were dismissed at the end of the school day. Not so high above the police tape and emergency vehicles, the roar of airplanes flying low into and out of Newark airport could be heard.
William K. Rashbaumand Hurubie Meko contributed reporting.