Newark Police Officer Joseph Macchia indicted in fatal shooting of Michael Gaffney outside bar

A Newark police officer was indicted on manslaughter charges in connection with a fatal shooting outside a Union Township bar earlier this year.
Officer Joseph Macchia is accused of shooting Michael Gaffney outside Paddy's Place bar on Rosemont Avenue in the early hours of May 13. The officer was off duty at the time of the shooting.
According to the Union County prosecutor, Macchia and Gaffney got into a physical fight outside the bar. They were separated from each other, but re-engaged in a second fight a few minutes later. It was during the second fight that Macchia fired his service weapon several times, fatally shooting Gaffney, according to the prosecutor.
The officer turned himself in Wednesday afternoon. His bail was set at $100,000.
Macchia was suspended without pay from the Newark Police Department, according to Newark Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose.
Gaffney's family started a petition following the shooting to change a law that allows off-duty police officers to carry weapons. "Gaffney's Law" would make it illegal for an off-duty law enforcement officer to carry a service weapon into any bar or establishment where they intend to consume alcohol.