14 YEAR OLD CHARGED WITH THE MURDER OF A POLICE OFFICER

A 14-year-old accused of fatally shooting a police officer before he could get out of his patrol car during an illegal firearms investigation in Newark, NJ, was charged with murder and attempted murder, officials said Saturday.

Detective Joseph Azcona, 26, died at a hospital and a second officer shot is recovering from his injuries.

“Five-year veteran Joseph Azcona was shot before he even had the opportunity to leave his police car,” Essex County Prosecutor Theodore Stephens said at a news conference Saturday morning.

Shots rang out around 6:30 p.m. near a White Castle and McDonald’s on Carteret Street and Broadway as Azcona and other officers investigated whether the teen and others at the location were in possession of illegal firearms, officials said.

“Shots were exchanged upon the interaction with the police and those individuals, and unfortunately two officers and one suspect were hit by gunfire,” Stephens said.

The teen allegedly fired a total of 29 shots at officers