An Atlantic City, New Jersey, police officer has been shot and wounded, officials announced early Saturday morning. Two officers observed a robbery in progress, according to Diane Ruberton, the Acting Atlantic County Prosecutor.
Advertisement
Atlantic City police officers were on patrol when they stopped three men along near the 2100 block of Pacific Avenue, and then gunfire was exchanged, police said.
At least one of the men in the auto opened fire, Atlantic City police Chief Henry White.
One unidentified male officer was shot and hurt as he got out of his vehicle. Officers from several departments searched the area for the at least two more suspects.
The wounded officer, whose name was not immediately released, was taken to nearby AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center. Authorities are seeking help in identifying them. Family members have identified the deceased as 25-year-old Jerome Damon.
The policeman was shot after he and his partner went to check on a group of people who they believed were “engaged in criminal activity” just after 2.30am on Saturday morning.
The officers were shot at when they got out of their patrol vehicle.
Police have arrested 19-year-old Martell Chisholm of Millville and 28-year-old Demetrius Cross of Bridgeton in connection with the shooting.
“A sad commentary on the amount of assault weapons so readily available”, Mayor Don Guardian said.
Patrick Colligan, the association’s president, said in the statement: “Our hearts are heavy at this hour, but our resolve to capture these suspects remains undeterred”.
The New Jersey COP SHOT Program has posted a reward $20,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspects responsible for shooting the officer.
On Thursday, in what police are calling a domestic dispute, Lewis Maisonet, 55, fatally shot Christopher Romero, 26. “I’m also very grateful for all of the police officers we have scouring the city”.
The shooting came days after the slaying of a store manager Thursday afternoon at a busy downtown shopping district and a shootout along miles of highway earlier in the week in the county. The Jersey City Police Officers Benevolent Association offered an additional $5,000.
Advertisement
Anyone with information about this incident is urged to call the Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit at 609-909-7666, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-658-TIPS (8477), the anonymous confidential tip line 609-652-1234, or text TIPCOP plus your tip to 274637.
