Duty Death: William C. Johnson Jr. - [Newark]
Associated Press
NEWARK, N.J. — An off-duty police officer was killed in a drive-by shooting at a Newark fast-food restaurant that also wounded two civilians, a prosecutor’s office spokeswoman said Friday.
Essex County Prosecutor’s spokeswoman Kathy Carter confirmed the officer’s death Friday morning. She said she did not have further details and could not release the name of the officer.
She said further information would be available at a news conference expected to be held later Friday morning.
Authorities previously said that the off-duty officer, who lived in Newark, and two other people were wounded around 9:45 p.m. when someone fired shots into the Texas Fried Chicken and Pizza restaurant, then sped off.
The other victims, a man and a woman, were in stable condition early Friday at University Hospital.
In an early-morning news conference, Mayor Cory Booker said the officer was 45 years old, a 16-year veteran of the force and had children.
Booker said a manhunt was under way for the car and its occupants.
“We are hurt,” Booker said. “We are angry and we will find who is responsible.”