By The New York Times
NEWARK, N.J. -- A police officer has been charged with attempted murder after he shot an unarmed man in the stomach on Sunday morning, prosecutors said today.
After an argument with his estranged girlfriend at the nursing home where she works, the officer, David Lamar of the Newark police, who was off duty, used his 9-millimeter service revolver to shoot Paul Godley, 40, a bystander who had tried to break up the fight, said Charlotte Smith, a spokeswoman for the Essex County prosecutor’s office.
Prosecutors said Officer Lamar, 35, ended his shift at 4 a.m. on Sunday and drove to the Stephen Crane Elderly Home complex in Newark, where his girlfriend works as a security guard. After the argument in one of the complex’s buildings, Officer Lamar walked to his vehicle, retrieved his revolver and shot Mr. Godley once, prosecutors said. Mr. Godley underwent surgery and was listed in critical condition tonight at University Hospital, a spokesman said.
After the shooting, Officer Lamar checked himself into the psychiatric ward at Clara Maass Hospital in Belleville, prosecutors said.
Officer Lamar was arrested at the hospital on Monday and charged with attempted murder, aggravated assault and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose.
Officer Lamar joined the Newark Police Department in February 2002 and has been suspended without pay, said Lt. Derrick Glenn, a department spokesman. A message left with Officer Lamar’s lawyer, Anthony Fusco, was not returned.
Officer Lamar is being held in the Essex County Jail in $50,000 bail and is to be arraigned before Judge Harold W. Fullilove of State Superior Court in Newark on Wednesday.