Police Shoot Car Thief in Head During Getaway Attempt, Authorities Say

A man who was seen traveling in a stolen luxury SUV and another stolen vehicle was shot in the head by Newark police Friday morning, a spokesman for the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office said.

The man, whose name was not released, was listed in stable condition Friday at University Hospital. The police officers involved were treated for stress-related symptoms.

Shortly before 7 am, Chief of Detectives Anthony Ambrose said a lieutenant and another officer—both described as department “veterans” by Ambrose—spotted a Land Rover near Rt. 1 & 9 that had previously been reported stolen in Morris County. Earlier published reports incorrectly stated the vehicle had been carjacked.

The officers followed the Land Rover to a motel parking lot, where they saw at least two of the three occupants exit the vehicle and enter another stolen car, an Audi that had been taken in Monmouth County.

Ambrose said the driver of the Audi then tried to run down the officers as they were approaching the car on foot, prompting one of the officers to fire his weapon.

Ambrose did not know if the man struck by gunfire was behind the wheel of the Audi. 

The two other alleged thieves fled the scene on foot and remained at-large Friday afternoon, Ambrose also said.

The incident is under investigation by the prosecutor's Homicide Task Force, Professional Standards Bureau and the Newark Police Department. Officer-involved shootings are generally reviewed by the prosecutor’s office.