Detective Joseph Azcona was shot and killed, and another detective was injured in a brazen attack on March 6, 2025, in Camden, New Jersey. The suspect was only 14 years old at the time of the crime. City officials issued a press release where they explained the facts of the case and asked the community to come together in this time of crisis.
“Yesterday, at approximately 6:30 p.m., Newark officers encountered several individuals in the vicinity of Broadway and Carteret here in the city of Newark,” Essex County Prosecutor Theodore Stephens said in a public address. “Based on criminal intelligence, the police were investigating the possibility that these individuals had illegal firearms.”
“Shots were exchanged upon the interaction with the police and those individuals, and unfortunately, two officers and one suspect were hit by gunfire,” he added Five-year veteran, Officer Joseph Azcona, was shot before he even had the opportunity to leave his police car at 2:34, this morning, he was pronounced at University Hospital here in Newark.”
“There was a second officer also shot. His injuries are expected not to be life threatening. He is continuing to recover in the hospital, and because of that, the delicacy of that recovery, his name will not be released at this time at the request of the Newark Police Division,” he continued. “One gun was recovered from the suspects.”
“Several individuals are in custody as a result of that interaction, and they’re being interviewed by the police and by the Essex County prosecutor’s office. One of the suspects is 14 years old. That juvenile has been charged with numerous crimes, including murder, attempted murder, and possession of illegal weapons,” he said to conclude his remarks.
Mayor Baraka delivered an impassioned speech during the same press conference. “We just have to do a better job. I have to do a better job. Our families have to do a better job,” the mayor said. “The community has to do a better job at making sure that our children are not handling guns in the street, shooting at police officers. This is not a police problem. This is our problem.”
Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin issued a statement on social media, which read, “Prosecutor Stephens, Public Safety Director Miranda, and the men and women of the Newark Police Department worked tirelessly through the night to locate those involved in this horrific exchange of gunfire that ended so tragically.” He also added that his thoughts were with the victims.
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Watch the press release here:
The mayor continued: “It’s our collective problem. And if this continues, it will continue to be our problem,” said Baraka. “What the hell can we do as residents of the city to make sure this never happens again. We mourn the loss of our officer. We are praying for the recovery, complete recovery, of the other officer, and we are standing side by side by the hundreds of police officers here in the city of Newark morning. We’re grieving because of this incident”
Featured image from embedded video