New Jersey Police Officer Killed, Second Officer Wounded in Shooting by 14-Year-Old, Authorities Say

A 14-year-old boy shot and killed Officer Joseph Azcona, 26, and wounded another officer in Newark, New Jersey, during a chaotic scene on Friday evening. Witnesses described officers sprinting down a busy street just before hearing multiple gunshots. Azcona, part of a team investigating illegal weapons activity, was struck almost as soon as he arrived in his vehicle, according to Newark's Director of Public Safety, Emanuel Miranda, who praised Azcona as a "true hero."

The wounded officer is expected to recover, while the 14-year-old shooter himself was also injured and hospitalized, facing charges including murder and attempted murder. Five individuals were taken into custody, though details about their identities and the precise circumstances leading to the gunfire remain limited as investigations are ongoing. Authorities recovered one weapon from the scene and are examining the firearms involved to assess the situation fully.

Azcona had a distinguished record as a five-year veteran of the Newark police, having been promoted to detective two years earlier and recognized as part of an elite intelligence unit. The gunfire erupted around 6:37 p.m. in the vicinity of Broadway and Carteret, an area bustling with commercial activity, as the police team responded to reports of illegal firearms. Witnesses described the alarming sounds of gunfire resembling a series of explosions.

Following the shooting, Officer Azcona was taken to University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead early Saturday morning, surrounded by his grieving family. The wounded officer's identity has not been disclosed by police officials.

Mayor Ras Baraka condemned the violence, expressing deep concern about the involvement of a young person with a firearm. He emphasized the need for community accountability in preventing similar incidents, stating that this challenge transcends policing and is a collective social issue that requires immediate attention.