One Newark police officer was killed and another is “fighting for his life” in critical condition after a shootout with a 14-year-old suspect Friday evening, according to reports.

Shots rang out around 6:30 p.m. near a White Castle and McDonald’s where the teen was hanging out with friends, ABC7 reported, citing the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office.

The young gunman allegedly fired a total of 29 shots at officers, sources told PIX11.

Both officers were hit in the flurry of bullets and were taken to University Hospital, ABC7 reported.

The injured officer is in critical condition and is “fighting for their life,” the New Jersey State Policemen’s Benevolent Association said in a statement.

There are conflicting reports about the status of the teen, with PIX 11 sources saying he was killed, while ABC 7 reported he was taken into custody.

The suspect was hanging with a large group at the fast-food restaurants just before the incident, but it is not clear what led to the shootout, according to ABC 7.

“I have been updated on an incident that took place in Newark earlier tonight involving two officers that were shot,” New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy wrote on X.

  • MintyFresh@lemmy.worldEnglish
    1·
    2 days ago

    I definitely am pro gun control. But I can’t help but feel that genie is well and good out of the bottle. Ban all new sales tomorrow and the nation is still awash in guns. I wish I knew what to do or say that would make people chill and stop killing each other. If I could choose a superpower it would be to make the whole world stop, and take a deep breath, all as one.

    • originalucifer@moist.catsweat.com
      5·
      2 days ago

      theres lots we could be doing. buy-back programs, registration requirements, laws limiting guns in certain places. stringent manufacturing laws…

      all of it gets blocked. were doing literally nothing and then complaining that the nothing doesnt work.

      • MintyFresh@lemmy.worldEnglish
        2·
        2 days ago

        I’m with ya. 100%. Buy em back, register them all, restrict manufacturing. Just knowing how shitty and selfish the average human is, coupled with the 320 million guns floating around… I’m less than optimistic. Also I’m worried a black market will just make things worse. See war on drugs, probation, etc.

        We do love our violence, guns are a symptom of that. Seems to be the part that needs fixing. How do you fix that? Sorry don’t mean to be dismissive and whatnot. Just a super frustrating situation

        • originalucifer@moist.catsweat.com
          2·
          2 days ago

          ill be less optimistic when we have tried all those things and then we still have issues. lets start somewhere before throwing up our hands.

          disarming the police would go a long way to changing the culture also. theres zero reason for them to be armed with human killing devices their entire shifts.

          • MintyFresh@lemmy.worldEnglish
            3·
            2 days ago

            I was questioned by a cop a few years ago due to a burglary at my work. I told him I can’t hear people who are fondling firearms when they speak to me. He spent the whole time gripping it in his holster thingy. Holy shit he didn’t like that. Talked all kinds of shit about me to my boss. Tried to get me to “fess up and make it easy”. Tried saying I was a narcotic used because of my pupils.Tried intimidating and coercing, all because I objected to him fondling a deadly weapon as we spoke.

            A couple days later the guy (the burglar)was caught a few blocks over in a different business. Never a word of apology, not so much as a contrite nod. Fucking cops in this country…