Murder suspect shot by police after allegedly lunging at officer in Hackensack

HACKENSACK (WABC) -- A suspect is in custody after allegedly lunging at officer with a knife in Hackensack.

Detectives arrived to the scene with an arrest warrant and tons of backup on Clay Street, but in the left hand apartment, the suspect was not about to go quietly. Prosecutors say he lunged at officers with a knife, and wound up with a bullet in the stomach.

Authorities say the suspect was Jose Santos-Alvarez, a man who had an arrest warrant for the murder of 26-year-old Monika Potoczniak, and her son, 4-year-old Christopher Potoczniak. Alvarez was an estranged boyfriend. The manhunt led more than 20 officers to the house, where they cornered Santos-Alvarez in a back room. Prosecutors say he lunged at the officers with a knife. There were a lot of police officers in a very small kitchen area. One shot was fired to the abdomen area. Eyewitness News is told that this was a non-life threatening injury.

A 8 or 9 inch kitchen knife was recovered at the scene, believed to be in the possession, and used by the suspect at or about the time of the shooting.

Bergen County Prosecutor John Molinelli said only one officer used his weapon and fired ony one shot. That officer was taken to the hospital for observation. No officers are said to be injured.

The suspect is undergoing surgery at Hackensack University medical Center, but he is expected to survive and is expected to face a double murder charge in the case of his ex-girlfriend and his 4-year-old son.