The 14-year-old gang member who is accused of killing a Newark police officer will be charged as an adult in federal court, according to Alina Habba, who is the interim U.S. attorney for New Jersey. Habba has promised to crack down on violent crime in the Garden State.
Detective Joseph Azcona was shot and killed in Newark last month while he was in his police car. The teen suspect, who has not been publicly named yet, is said to be a member of the violent Bloods gang. During the shooting, another cop was hurt.
“That child will be charged as an adult.” Habba told the New York Post on Wednesday that the papers were filed yesterday while she was with a group of police officers raiding Brick City for wanted criminals.
Habba, who was sworn in as President Donald Trump’s new attorney on Friday, sent a strong message to dangerous teens who break the law.
“It’s very clear: I don’t care if you’re a child. You will be tried as an adult if you kill a police officer. I will not stand for bloodshed, and we will clean up New Jersey.
In New Jersey, people under 15 can’t be tried as adults, but Habba said that her office had filed papers to take the case to federal court, where the teen will be able to be tried.
He shot and killed a police officer who came to get him. He is 14 years old and in a gang. Habab told the Post, “He was 26 years old.”
At first, the teen was charged with murder, attempted murder, and having guns that were illegal.
Authorities say the cop who was killed was in his car when he was shot. He was with a group of Newark police detectives and federal agents who were going to catch a suspect in an illegal weapons sting.
The other cop who was hit was taken to the hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening, according to the police. While going to the scene of the killing, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka said that there was “heinous, callous disregard for humanity” and that police knew that “grave danger was possible.”
The Post reported that during Wednesday’s raid, police arrested an 18-year-old man who they said was a member of the Bloods gang. He had a history of weapons charges and was wanted for aggravated assault after reportedly shooting two people.
In the meantime, Habba also said that she would not stand for human trafficking in New Jersey.
“One of my first orders of business was creating a Human Trafficking Task Force and appointing an incredibly talented and passionate Assistant U.S. Attorney to lead it,” Habba wrote on X day.
“It will be safe for the 2026 World Cup to be held in New Jersey.” We’ll be ready!”
