14-year-old charged in fatal shooting of New Jersey police officer
A 14-year-old has been charged with murder after a New Jersey police officer was fatally shot and another was seriously injured Friday night as officers responded to reports of suspects with illegal firearms.
Joseph Azcona, 26, was still in his police car when he was shot at about 6:37 p.m., the Essex County Prosecutor's Office said. He died from his injuries early Saturday morning at Newark's University Hospital.
Another officer, whose name has not yet been released, was also shot during the incident and is expected to recover.
A 14-year-old suspect was shot and is likely to recover. The 14-year-old was charged with murder, attempted murder and possession of an illegal weapon.
One gun and several suspects are in custody, Essex County Prosecutor Theodore Stephens said.
“Our heart is heavy right now,” said Newark Public Safety Director Emanuel Miranda. “Our agency is hurting. We lost a true hero last night.”
“(Azcona) didn’t even get a chance to step out of his car,” Miranda said. “We are all mourning and grieving and we will pay him the respect he deserves as a true hero.”
'Heinous, callous disregard for humanity'
Azcona became an officer in Newark five years ago and was promoted to detective two years ago. He is survived by his mother, father and five brothers, who gathered at the hospital.
“Tonight is one of the darkest days for New Jersey law enforcement in recent memory," New Jersey State Policemen's Benevolent Association President Peter Andreyev said in a statement. "One young officer has died, and another is fighting for his life. We stand ready to help our brothers and sisters" of the Newark Police Department.
Newark Mayor Ras Baraka said law enforcement agencies are working to bring to justice the individuals responsible for such a “heinous, callous disregard for humanity.”
The officers "went to a scene last night that many of us would not have gone to,” Baraka said. “I don’t know many people that would go knowing the danger that lived there, but they went anyway.”
Baraka said this is a community problem, not a police issue – one in which a 14-year-old allegedly had a gun and used it to shoot at police. Baraka called on the community as a whole, from clergy to parents, to step up.
“It makes me sad that our system hasn’t figured out a way to keep guns out of kids' hands,” he said during Saturday's press conference. “We just have to do a better job. I have to do a better job, our community has to do a better job. This is a collective problem.”
Police departments from throughout New Jersey shared photos of the Newark badge and other tributes on social media in the wake of the tragedy. "We stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Newark," posted the Wallington police, a sentiment echoed by many other departments.
"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," Gov. Phil Murphy said.