A 25-year-old man was charged with attempted murder after he allegedly shot a police officer in Camden County, New Jersey, officials said Wednesday.
By Tom Ignudo, Raymond Strickland, Jan Carabeo
A 25-year-old man was charged with attempted murder after he allegedly shot a police officer in Camden County, New Jersey, officials said Wednesday.
Marques Jones was charged with first-degree attempted murder, second-degree aggravated assault and other offenses in a shooting that happened near the intersection of North Chesapeake and Congress roads in Camden just before 11 p.m. Tuesday.
Camden County officials said police were attempting to stop Jones when he pointed a handgun in the direction of the officer and fired multiple gunshots. Investigators believe one of the bullets ricocheted off the officer’s bulletproof vest and struck him in the left arm.
After the officer was shot, a police sergeant shot Jones once in the body, officials said. He was taken to Cooper University Hospital, where he was placed in critical condition. The police officer allegedly shot by Jones was placed in stable condition.
“There is some bruising on his chest, so it does appear that a round did strike the vest. I don’t know if it’s the same round that entered his arm. That’s all part of the investigation,” Camden County Police Chief Gabe Rodriguez said.
The officer has not been publicly identified, but the department said he’s been employed there for almost two years.
Officials said a handgun was found in the area of the shooting.
Luther Rice said he recently moved into the Camden neighborhood, and it’s the first time he has ever heard gunshots so close to home.
“It’s a tragedy,” he said. “That he is trying to do things that will better the city, and he gets shot. Who wants to see anything like that happen to a man who is trying to do his job?”
Aaron Vines said he was outside when it happened.
“I was sitting in the truck, just getting off work, and I heard all the gunshots,” Vines said. “It’s literally right here. All the gunshots. It’s amazing, it was that close to my house.”
The shooting is under investigation by the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit with guidance from the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office.