Prosecutor: Police officer shoots man suspected of stealing from Bayonne gas station
Gabriel Escobar, a gas station attendant, says he pumped the suspect’s gas at the QuickChek and that the man didn’t pay.
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The Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office is investigating a situation in which a Bayonne police officer shot a man suspected of stealing from a gas station.
Officials say that Bayonne police were called to the gas station on 53rd Street near Avenue A. The theft happened around 6:30 a.m. Thursday.
Gabriel Escobar, a gas station attendant, says he pumped the suspect’s gas at the QuickChek and that the man didn’t pay.
“So, I called the cops and the cops said they already stopped him down by the Burger King because he ran the red light. I heard the gunshots. I wasn’t scared but I was like, I don’t know if it was him or not,” Escobar said. “It happens all the time. They run away without paying but it never ends like this.”
The officers found the suspect in the parking lot of a Burger King near Broadway and 54th Street a short time later. Officials say that this suspect was in a vehicle and drove away as officers approached him. He allegedly struck two police vehicles and a parked car.
Officials say a Bayonne police officer shot at the suspect during this exchange, but he got away.
“I heard the police because the police was yelling, shouting, ‘Stop the car, stop the car.’ But the guy didn’t stop,” says witness Rick Miller.
Officials say that the suspect was found a short time later in Jersey City with an apparent gunshot wound. He was taken to Jersey City Medical Center with injuries that were not considered to be life-threatening.
Officials say that this man, whose name was not released, is currently in police custody. It was not immediately clear what charges he could be facing.
