A suspected armed carjacker was shot by police after a brief chase in Newark Thursday afternoon, authorities say.
The suspect carjacked a BMW driver at gunpoint at Sherman and Stanton and took off, according to prosecutors. A Newark police vehicle nearby pursued the carjacker.
Witness Tara Cooper said she heard the commotion during the brief chase.
"I heard all the helicopters, the screeching of the tires, and I looked out the window and I'm seeing cars, the white BMW go up and down the street," she said.
"They were chasing him a good while, I mean it made everybody come outdoors because the noise, the helicopters -- it kinda frightened me, like what's going on?" she said.
At some point, the BMW crashed and the police car rammed up against it on the sidewalk at Avon Avenue and South 11th Street. One police officer fired a shot at the suspect.
The suspect was taken to University Hospital in critical condition. It's not clear if he had a weapon.
Local
No police officers were injured.
The Essex County prosecutor's office is investigating.
