A retired police officer who was working as an ATM serviceman was shot this morning during a robbery attempt in Newark, law enforcement and city officials told NBC New York.
The suspects had two .38s and a shotgun, and were wearing bulletproof vests, according to Newark Councilman Augie Amador. The officer who was targeted was loading an ATM with money when he was ambushed, sources said.
The officer, whose name has not been released, also had a gun and may have also wounded one of the suspects, officials said.
The robbers fled the scene in Newark's Ironbound section and crashed their getaway car a few blocks away.
A K9 police dog was brought in to track down the second suspect who fled the scene on foot, police said. It is unclear if the robbers made off with cash from the ATM.
A neighbor said she was frightened after hearing of the brazen crime.
"The cops didn't really tell us much so everyone was making up their own stories, so it was kind of scary," said Ines Simoes.
The officer's condition is not known at this time. But Councilman Amador said he was told that the officer could have been carrying up to $400,000 in cash during his shift.
"I'm very surprised this individual, the retired police officer, was walking around with that kind of cash to be distributed rather than having an armored car," he said.
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