Funeral for slain Newark Police Detective Joseph Azcona to be held Friday

Services for Detective Joseph Azcona will be held at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark at 10:30 a.m.

Matt Trapani and Sarah Goode

Mar 10, 2025, 4:25 PM

Updated 2 hr ago

Share:

The funeral for a slain Newark police detective will be held on Friday – one week after he was fatally shot.
Services for Detective Joseph Azcona will be held at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark at 10:30 a.m.
Azcona was shot and killed on March 7. A second police officer was also injured in the shooting. The Essex County Prosecutor’s Office has charged a 14-year-old with murder and attempted murder in connection to the shooting.
The teen was also shot and was treated for injuries that were not considered life-threatening.
Four other people are in custody.
"Any sort of a gun interaction like this is the sort of thing that happens far too often, and we need to do everything we can to make sure we limit those, if not eradicate those, to the extent that we can," said Essex County prosecutor Stephens.
Newark Mayor Ras Baraka said the city stands by the hundreds of police officers in Newark who are mourning and grieving.
"Our heart is heavy right now. Our agency is hurting. We lost a true hero," said Newark Public Safety Director Emanuel Miranda.
“Dignitaries from federal, state, and county public safety agencies, local municipalities, and the City of Newark are invited to attend [Detective Azcona’s funeral],” a spokesperson for the city wrote in a statement.