Man Who Shot School Resource Officer Is Captured In Bergen County: Police

PARAMUS, NJ — A fugitive who was wanted for allegedly shooting a school resource teacher in Philadelphia was captured in Paramus over the weekend, police said.

Ariza Giansteban, 29, was wanted for allegedly shooting a school resource officer and firing at three Philadelphia police officers, said Paramus Police Chief Robert Guidetti.

Just before 9:30 p.m. Saturday, the Philadelphia Police Homicide Unit contacted Paramus police about Giansteban, Guidetti said.

They told police that the suspect "had allegedly stolen a handgun and traveled to New Jersey, possibly heading to the New Bridge Medical Center in Paramus," police said.

Paramus Police Sgt. Anthony Mordaga, Officer Vinny LaBarbiera, and Bergen County Sheriff’s Officer Patrick Doyle, along with other officers, responded to the area.

Working with New Bridge Medical Center security, officers confirmed Giansteban’s identity and safely took him into custody without incident, police said.

Giansteban was taken to the Bergen County Jail, where he remains awaiting extradition to Philadelphia.

The investigation remains ongoing, police said.

Media reports said that the shooting happened before 2 a.m. on Sunday, June 29 in the 300 block of N. Columbus Blvd. in Philadelphia.

According to ABC, a driver flagged down the school resource officer. Then, someone opened fire on him. The officer drove away, then crashed into a tree and was taken to the hospital in critical condition, ABC said.