The man accused of shooting two Newark police officers has pleaded not guilty, and detectives are still looking for the gun he used. Tuesday afternoon outside of a building on Van Velsor Place, Howard allegedly produced a gun and shot both policemen, striking one in the leg and the other in the shoulder.
Although one of the hurt officers was still being treated in the hospital on Thursday morning, Essex County Prosecutor Theodore Stephens II expected that he would fully recover. The other cop was discharged on Wednesday afternoon.
Gov. Phil Murphy met with the two cops on Wednesday and requested that people remember them in their prayers. Authorities commended the actions of bystanders who helped the hurt cops, especially a woman who got out of her car and tried to help a bleeding officer.
After receiving a call from a resident claiming to know the individual depicted on a flier who had been involved in an Oct. 28 shooting, police had already arrived at the apartment complex early on Tuesday afternoon.
According to authorities, as they were leaving the facility when they arrived, they ran into Howard in the parking lot, and after a scuffle, a gunshot took place. After that, he withdrew into the building where he stayed for over 20 hours, ostensibly in hiding, before being apprehended.