John R. Hagerty 609-984-1936

Essex County - The Attorney General’s Shooting Response Team is conducting an investigation into the circumstances surrounding a shooting incident that occurred in E. Orange, Essex County, at approximately 10:10 p.m. on Wed., Feb. 15.

According to the preliminary investigation, detectives from the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Unit were involved in an ongoing law enforcement investigation which had previously identified a suspect alleged to be involved in illegal narcotics activities. As part of the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office investigation, a warrant charging possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute and criminal conspiracy had been issued for the arrest of the 32-year old suspect. At approximately 10:10 p.m., Essex County Prosecutor’s Office detectives initiated a motor vehicle stop of the suspect while driving a 1998 Chevrolet van. The motor vehicle stop occurred at the intersection of Freeway Drive and Halsted Street in E. Orange. The preliminary investigation has determined that the suspect exited his vehicle and the detectives initiated arrest procedures. In the course of making the arrest, the suspect brandished a handgun. As a result, shots were fired and the male suspect was killed. The deceased male remains unidentified pending further investigation. An autopsy is scheduled by the Regional Medical Examiners Office for later today (Thurs., Feb. 16). The Attorney General’s Shooting Response Team has identified the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office detectives as Det. Daniel Francis and Det. John Gomes.

The incident remains under investigation by the Attorney General’s Shooting Response Team. Under an Attorney General Directive, the Attorney General’s Shooting Response Team, made up of Deputy Attorney’s General and state investigators from the Division of Criminal Justice and detectives from the State Police Major Crime Unit, are dispatched to the scene to conduct the investigation. The Attorney General’s Shooting Response Team also receives investigative and administrative support from county prosecutor’s offices. The Essex County Prosecutor’s Office is assisting in the ongoing investigation.

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