Police-Involved Shooting In Bayonne Investigated

Police-Involved Shooting In Bayonne Investigated


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Raymond Worrall

PHONE: (201) 795-6400 Ext. 6737

EMAIL: rworrall@hcpo.org

TWITTER: @HCPOProsecutor

WEB: hudsoncountyprosecutorsofficenj.org

DATE: Sunday, August 27, 2017

POLICE-INVOLVED SHOOTING IN BAYONNE INVESTIGATED

Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez has released the following information:

On Friday, August 25, 2017, at approximately 5:35 p.m., Bayonne Police Officers were dispatched to East 25th Street in Bayonne on a report of a domestic violence incident. Upon arrival, the initial responding officer encountered a male actor in the street. While the officer was still in his marked patrol vehicle, the man began acting in an aggressive manner toward the Officer.

After exiting his vehicle, the Officer was pursued by the actor with a knife. Despite numerous commands for the actor to drop his weapon and submit to arrest, the actor continued to threaten the Officer with his knife. As a result of this aggressive behavior, the Officer discharged his service weapon striking the actor in his torso and an extremity.

The actor, later identified as Rudy Vera, age 51, of Bayonne, was treated at the scene and then transported by Emergency Medical Services to Jersey City Medical Center where he remains in stable condition.

An initial investigation by the Prosecutor’s Office revealed that upon arriving at her home, a female victim found Vera in her apartment in violation of a restraining order. The victim immediately exited her home and was pursued by Vera, who acted in a threatening manner toward her with a screwdriver and a knife. At that time, the initial responding Officer arrived.

Vera has been charged with Armed Burglary in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:18-2; two counts of Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4; two counts of Unlawful Possession of a Weapon in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5; Violation of a Restraining Order in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:29-9; two counts of Aggravated Assault – Attempt to Cause Bodily Injury with a Deadly Weapon in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1b; Aggravated Assault – Attempt to Cause Serious Bodily Injury in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1b; Aggravated Assault Against a Law Enforcement Officer in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1b; and Resisting Arrest in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:29-2a.

The Police Officer involved with the shooting was taken to the Bayonne Medical Center for evaluation.

Pursuant to Attorney General guidelines, the Office of the Hudson County Prosecutor has taken over the investigation from the Bayonne Police Department and the Prosecutor’s Internal Affairs Unit is in the early stages of the investigation.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact the Office of the Hudson County Prosecutor at 201-915-1345 or to leave an anonymous tip on the Prosecutor’s official website at: http://www.hudsoncountyprosecutorsofficenj.org/homicide-tip/ . All information will be kept confidential.

The above charges are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty. R.P.C.3.6(b)(6).