Suspect Killed, Cop Wounded In Parkway Shootout In Woodbridge

WOODBRIDGE, NJ — A suspect being pursued by Cranford police in connection to a van theft was fatally shot late Thursday night - and a police officer was wounded - in a confrontation on the Garden State Parkway in Woodbridge, according to the state Attorney General.

The Attorney General’s Office Friday morning confirmed it is investigating a fatal police-involved shooting that happened on Thursday, Dec. 28, in Woodbridge.

One adult male "sustained fatal injuries," the office said. His identity was not being released at this time.

According to preliminary information, officers from the Cranford Police Department were pursuing a stolen vehicle that crashed in the area of a southbound exit on the Garden State Parkway in Woodbridge, state authorities said.

After the crash, the driver of the vehicle and two officers exchanged gunfire.

The driver was pronounced dead at the scene at approximately 12:04 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 29. A firearm was recovered near the driver, according to the investigation.

One officer sustained a non-fatal gunshot wound and was treated at a hospital and released, authorities said.

Gov. Phil Murphy's office's released a statement earlier Friday: "Our men and women in uniform put their lives on the line every day to keep us safe. We are praying for the officer’s swift recovery," Murphy said in the social media post.

A 2019 law requires the Attorney General’s Office to conduct investigations of a person’s death that occurs during an encounter with a law enforcement officer acting in the officer’s official capacity or while the decedent is in custody, the Attorney General said.

It requires that all such investigations be presented to a grand jury to determine if the evidence supports the return of an indictment against the officer or officers involved.

The investigation is ongoing and no further information is being released at this time, the office said.

According to an initial report by WABC Eyewitness News, officials said the shooting happened near Exit 131 on the Garden State Parkway in Woodbridge at around 11:30 p.m. Thursday.

There was a large police presence at the scene that was cleared up by Friday a.m.

Patch will update the story as more information becomes available.