Suspect in hospital after Newark Police return fire in Monday morning shooting, investigators say
NEWARK, N.J. -- Families were jolted awake Monday morning by gunfire inside their own apartment complex.
Authorities say a domestic violence call escalated to a police officer-involved shooting.
Newark Police toted out a large bag of evidence from the Ebon Square Apartments, where families woke up to a blood-soaked third-floor hallway. Residents say that's where a man and officers exchanged fire during the early morning hours.
"It's a little traumatizing. I just came out this morning, taking my daughter to school, and I come out and see all of this going on. It's a little crazy," neighbor Ceazu Kassor said.
According to law enforcement sources, a domestic violence call of a man threatening a woman brought police to the building on Clinton Avenue and South 15th Street.
Officers say they found 30-year-old Hakeem Murchison in the hallway and that he fired first, shooting at them twice but missed.
An officer then returned fire, striking him.
"Just knowing I didn't hear anything, it's pretty scary. Something has got to give. I don't know what yet, but something," neighbor David McLendon said.
According to the building manager, the suspect doesn't live in the building, but often comes to visit his girlfriend.
He said the man often sleeps in the hallway.
"I've lived here several years and I haven't seen anything like this. I leave my apartment, I go away. I come back and it's the same," one resident said.
The Essex County Prosecutor's Office is now in charge of the investigation.
While no police officers were shot, two were taken to University Hospital to be checked out.
Murchison was also taken to the hospital where he is in stable condition.
The prosecutor's office says the suspect has been charged with aggravated assault and two weapon offenses.