Police Officer Wounds Man Who Allegedly Refused to Drop Weapon

A Newark police officer shot and wounded an armed man early Saturday night, the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office and Newark Police Director Samuel DeMaio said in a statement.

A group of armed men was seen near North 4th and Dickerson streets around 7:30 p.m., Chief Assistant Prosecutor Thomas Fennelly said. When police arrived in the area to investigate and approached the group, one of the men pulled a handgun and turned toward an officer, who ordered him to drop the weapon, Fennelly said. When the man refused, the officer fired, striking the man, Fennelly said.

Willie T. Brooks, 22, of Newark, was taken to University Hospital, where he was being treated for non-life-threatening injuries Saturday night. Police recovered a loaded handgun from Brooks, Fennelly said.

Brooks has been charged with aggravated assault, unlawful possession of a handgun, possession of a handgun for an unlawful purpose and possession of hollow-point bullets.