The mom of a murdered New Jersey police officer has broken her silence, alleging her son claimed he ‘wasn’t in any danger’ during his five years as an officer.
Cops were reportedly investigating possible illegal firearms at around 6.30pm local time in Newark, New Jersey, on Friday (March 7), when gunshots were exchanged between officers and a group of people, reports ABC.
26-year-old detective Joseph Azcona was a casualty of the attack after being shot during the incident, police said.
He was later pronounced dead after being transported to a medical institution.
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Essex County Prosecutor Theodore Stephens confirmed in a press conference on Saturday (March 8) that a 14-year-old has since been arrested and charged with murder, attempted murder and possession of illegal weapons.
He also confirmed that as well as Azcona, who served as an officer with the Newark Police Department for five years and as a detective with an intelligence unit for two, a second officer and a suspect were both shot.
Stephens reported that both the second officer and the suspect sustained non-life threatening injuries.
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Describing Azcona’s death as an ‘egregious act’, Essex County Sheriff Amir Jones said: "Law enforcement officers leave their loved ones everyday and put their lives on the line for the safety and wellbeing of our communities.
"The egregious acts that took place last night have left a family, a community and the brotherhood and sisterhood of law enforcement devastated and with a void that can never be filled.”
He added: “The thing to remember primarily is that the officers involved are heroes, everyday heroes that work the streets.”
Amid the devastating incident, 56-year-old Martha Vargas, Azcona's mom, told the New York Post that her son was her ‘baby’, remarking how he wanted to be an enforcement officer since he was ‘little’.
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“When he grew up he took the test,” she recalled, adding that Aconza was always reiterating he ‘wasn’t in danger’ while on duty.
Recalling how she discovered her son was on his deathbed, Vargas explained she’d received a call from her nephew and believed her child was in University Hospital in Newark for ‘something simple’.
“When I went to the hospital, he was like that. They shot him in the head,” she tearfully explained.
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ABC 7 New York reports that Vargas was joined by Azcona's five brothers at the hospital when he was pronounced dead.
Speaking about the 14-year-old accused assailant, the grieving mom said: “It’s crazy. It’s crazy. A young kid,” she said, shaking her head.
“Sometimes you can blame the parents but sometimes you can’t. You don’t know what they’re doing. You cannot blame them. I don’t blame the parents, believe me.
“You know how kids are when they get with other kids.”
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Following the arrest of the teenager, who has not been named by authorities, five people are currently in custody being questioned in relation to the incident, writes NJ.com.
It is not yet clear if anyone from the group will face charges but officials claim 'everybody was captured' that was involved in the incident.
Ella Scott