14-year-old charged with killing New Jersey police officer

A 14-year-old boy has been charged with murder in the death of a Newark, New Jersey police officer, after shots were exchanged between police and a group on Friday night, according to prosecutors.

Newark police officer shot and killed

Joseph Azcona (Newark Police Department)

Joseph Azcona, 26, a five-year veteran of the Newark Police Department was shot and died at a local hospital.

A second officer and the teen were shot, both sustaining non-life threatening injuries, Essex County Prosecutor Theodore Stephens said at a news conference Saturday morning.

“Five-year veteran Joseph Azcona was shot before he even had the opportunity to leave his police car,” Stephens said.

Incident

Police officers were investigating possible illegal firearms when the shots were exchanged, Stephens said.

“Shots rang out around 6:30 p.m. near a White Castle and McDonald’s on Carteret Street and Broadway as Azcona and other officers investigated whether the teen and others at the location were in possession of illegal firearms”.

Police recovered the automatic weapon that the teen allegedly fired at police, Stephens said. Five other individuals were being questioned, he said.

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

Officials have not named the 14-year-old suspect or provided details about him. He is also charged with attempted murder and possession with illegal weapons.

Azcona, who has been a detective for two years, was not married and didn’t have children, officials said.