Police Officer, 26, Killed and Another 'Critically Injured' in Shoot-Out, 14-Year-Old Suspect Charged with Murder

A police officer was killed and another was critically injured during a shoot-out involving a teenager in New Jersey.

The two Newark police officers were shot while on duty in the area of Broadway and Carteret at around 6:37 p.m. local time on Friday, March 7, Essex County authorities said during a press conference on Saturday, March 8, per CBS News.

One of the officers, Joseph Azcona, 26 — a five-year veteran of the Newark Police Department, per police — was pronounced dead after being brought to a hospital. The other officer, whose identity has not yet been shared, meanwhile, remains hospitalized with injuries that are not expected to be life-threatening.

Authorities said the teenage suspect was also shot and hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. They have since been charged with murder, attempted murder and illegal weapons possession, per police.

The president of the Fraternal Order of Police, Robert W. Fox, initially confirmed Azcona’s death in a statement on Facebook, writing, “[We] are saddened to announce that two brave, hero police officers of the Newark Police Department were shot in the line of duty this evening.”

“One Officer has made the ultimate sacrifice, and the other is receiving treatment for their wounds at the time of this release … We will provide updated information as it becomes available,” he continued.

Witnesses of the shooting recalled seeing police “chasing” and “running” before hearing several shots during the incident.  

Randy Mejia, who works in the area, told CBS News, “They were chasing, but I don’t know if they were chasing somebody. I saw maybe four cops on the way down toward the street. They were running down the street.”

Andrea Perez told ABC 7 New York, “There were 10 shots, I want to say. I want to say the whole clip basically. I just heard the gunshots and I thought it was fireworks, because people are always doing their fireworks, and then I saw a bunch of police come.”

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Authorities are concentrating their investigation in an area located between a McDonald’s and a White Castle, ABC 7 New York reported. Police also retrieved a backpack as evidence in the shooting, according to the outlet.  

Details of the events leading up to the shooting have not been released at this time. 

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy wrote on X, “This is a rapidly developing situation. 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.”

The investigation is ongoing. 

The Essex County Prosecutor’s Office did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment on March 7.