East Orange Cop Shot, Saved by Bulletproof Vest; Suspect Apprehended

An East Orange police Sgt. Mike Williams was shot at Oration Parkway at 11:22 a.m. today while making a “quality of life” patrol. The officer was saved by his bulletproof vest, according to NJ.com.

Twenty-nine-year-old Robert O’Neil of East Orange (pictured) pulled an automatic weapon on the police officer and shot him in the lower abdomen, according to a release from the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office. Williams discharged his weapon but missed O’Neil.

O’Neil was arrested and charged with attempted murder, resisting arrest and weapons offenses. He also had an open warrant in Morris County. He is currently in custody at the East Orange General Hospital.

Williams was taken to University Hospital in Newark following the incident and released after treatment this afternoon.