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- 14-year-old charged with murder of Newark police officer (abcnews.go.com)
Newark, NJ – Tragedy struck the city Friday night as a shootout between police and a group of individuals resulted in the death of a Newark police officer and the arrest of a 14-year-old boy on murder charges.
Officer Joseph Azcona, a five-year veteran of the Newark Police Department, was fatally shot during the incident. He was pronounced dead at a local hospital hours later. A second officer and one suspect sustained non-life-threatening injuries in the exchange of gunfire.
Essex County Prosecutor Theodore Stephens, speaking at a Saturday press conference, stated that officers were investigating potential illegal firearms activity around 6:30 p.m. when the shooting erupted. Four other individuals have been taken into custody in connection with the incident.
The 14-year-old suspect faces charges of murder, attempted murder, and illegal weapons possession. He also sustained non-life-threatening injuries.
Essex County Sheriff Amir Jones expressed the profound impact of this loss on the community and law enforcement, stating, “Law enforcement officers put their lives on the line daily for our safety. Last night’s tragic events have left an irreplaceable void.”
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- 14-year-old charged with murder of Newark police officer (abcnews.go.com)