Man in custody after police shooting near gas station parking lot in Bayonne
BAYONNE, New Jersey (WABC) -- A man is in custody after a reported gas station robbery led to a chaotic chase and police-involved shooting Thursday morning in New Jersey.
Police say the incident started at a nearby Quick Check on East 53rd Street around 7 a.m. after receiving a report of a robbery at a gas station.
A gas station attendant told Eyewitness News that a man went to fill up his gas tank, said he'd pay with cash, and then allegedly took off without paying.
"He's like 'alright buddy have a good day, thank you, good looking,' and then of course I'm like are you going to pay me and he just drives off," attendant Gabe Escobar said.
Responding officers located the person of interest at a parking lot near Broadway and 54th Street. After being approached by police, officials say the man fled the scene in his vehicle, striking two police vehicles and an unoccupied civilian vehicle.
Escobar said the driver ran a red light and cops were in pursuit before the sound of gunfire broke out near a Burger King.
"There were at least four shots. You know, shot sounds, pow, pow, pow, pow, pow. I said, 'Oh my God, what is that?' And my husband said, 'That's a gunshot! That's a gunshot!'" said eyewitness Shirley Johnson Hall.
Witnesses told Eyewitness News they saw the man ramming into other vehicles while trying to escape the police.
Officials say one officer fired his weapon during the incident.
The man was located a short time later near Linden Avenue and Scott Street in Jersey City with apparent gunshot wounds.
He was taken to Jersey City Medical Center, where he is currently in custody with injuries that are not considered life threatening.
A Bayonne Police cruiser was towed away after the messy morning.
The Hudson County Prosecutor's Office is investigating the incident.
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