Off-Duty Newark Cop Shoots, Wounds Robbery Suspect

An off-duty Newark police officer wounded a man who allegedly tried to rob a Summer Avenue restaurant early Tuesday morning, Newark police said in a statement.

The officer, whose name was not released, was at the El Bachatipico restaurant, 850 Summer Ave., around 1 am when two armed man entered and announced a robbery, police said. The officer shot one man several times before the man fled the restaurant. He was later found and was being treated at University Hospital Tuesday morning. The second suspect remains at large.

Although the incident is still being investigated, police officials said the shooting appeared to be justified.

"I am relieved that the officer and the other patrons and bystanders were unharmed and able to return home to their families safely,” Police Director Samuel DeMaio said in a statement. “Judging from the preliminary information gathered from the scene it appears this officer exhibited extreme bravery and professionalism in warding off two armed suspects during a robbery attempt."