Fleeing teen pulled gun on police, authorities say
NEWARK -- A city police officer shot at a fleeing suspect Friday night after the suspect pointed a gun at him, department spokesman Sgt. Ron Glover said.
No one was struck by the gunfire, Glover also said.
The incident began shortly before 9 p.m., when Sgt. David Whatley and detectives Luis Rivera, Juan Ramos, Wyhidi Wilson and Emmanuel Pereira of the Special Conditions Unit were patrolling near Pennsylvania Avenue and Thomas Street.
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Glover said the officers saw a city man, Aziz Cox, 18, adjusting an item in his waistband as they traveled west on Thomas. When officers left their car to investigate, Cox allegedly fled while continuing to clutch the item.
When Cox was ordered to stop, he turned and pointed a handgun at Wilson, Glover said. Wilson then fired his weapon.
Cox, who was "violently resisting arrest," was captured by Rivera and Suarez in the 80 block of Lincoln Park, Glover said. He was in possession of a loaded .357 Magnum that had been reported stolen in North Carolina, Glover also said.
The eastern end of Clinton Avenue near Lincoln Park was closed to traffic Friday night as a knot of city police and investigators from the Essex County Prosecutor's Office processed the scene. A young male was seen being placed into the back of a squad car but it was not immediately known if this was Cox.
Several witnesses reported hearing multiple shots as the incident unfolded, including a passerby from Jersey City who said he saw police running in the area moments after the gunfire broke out.
Cox has been charged with aggravated assault, unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and receiving stolen property.
The shooting is being investigated by the department's Major Crimes Section.
Paul Milo may be reached at pmilo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @PaulMilo2. FindNJ.com on Facebook