Crime & Safety

Corrections Officer Shoots Armed, Masked Teens to Foil Alleged Robbery Attempt

Gunfire exchanged early Monday morning in the area of Bergen Street and Pomona Avenue.

A corrections officer wounded two armed, masked teenagers who were attempting to rob him early Monday morning in the area of Bergen Street and Pomona Avenue, the Essex County Prosecutor's Office said.

The Prosecutor's Office Homicide/Major Crimes Task Force and its Professional Standards Bureau are investigating the incident, which occurred at about 2:30 a.m.

In a statement released late Monday afternoon, Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray said the officer was visiting friends in the area when the men approached. There was an exchange of gunfire between the officer and the men, and two were wounded, Murray said.

Kyle Cross, 19, of Newark, was identified as one of the alleged robbers. He is in critical but stable condition at University Hospital, Murray said. The other robber is a 16-year-old Newark resident, Murray said. He is in stable condition at University Hospital, Murray said.

The two are under police guard, according to the statement, and will be charged with weapons and robbery offenses.

Murray's statement also said the corrections officer was treated for trauma and released from the hospital.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.