Police Officer, Several Others Injured In Rash Of Violence In Paterson, N.J.
PATERSON, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- An outburst of violence on Saturday left a police officer injured in Paterson, New Jersey.
The officer was reportedly struck and dragged by a car.
As CBS2's Steve Langford reported, the investigation also involved multiple shootings. But many details remained unclear late Saturday.
A furious fusillade of flying hot lead erupted before dawn Saturday on North Third Street in Paterson. Yellow crime scene markers numbered 21 in all, as investigators began to try to piece together the violence that shattered multiple neighborhoods overnight.
"It's crazy," one resident said. "We're right here on the first floor. A bullet could have just come through the window and hit anyone."
The witness was the only individual among dozens CBS2 approached on the street – home to many children – who was willing to talk about the early-morning shootout that erupted when a Paterson police officer began firing her weapon. She reportedly had been injured in a confrontation.
Paterson police told 1010 WINS the driver of the car dragged the officer and did not stop.
The crash happened on Belmont Avenue, about 5 miles from a shooting that happened earlier in the morning, 1010 WINS reported.
In the subsequent shooting, another woman's minivan had its back window blown out by one of the gunshots. The suspects got away.
Police were investigating a possible connection to another shooting here in Paterson, just minutes before the officer involved incident.
"The shot woke me up," a man said.
The man said his neighbors were outside on East 39th Street just before dawn when someone opened fire. He saw the victims lying wounded on the ground.
A woman who was too distraught to speak said her husband and brother were shot. Another witness saw the early-morning crowd scatter.
"I saw everybody just run to the end of the block, and someone get into the car, and then they drove that way," said witness Keith Adams.
The only saving grace was that no one was killed in the incidents.