New Jersey Officer Shot

MYFOXNY.COM - A Fairfield, New Jersey police officer is hospitalized and in critical but stable condition after suffering multiple gunshot wounds Saturday evening. He has been placed in a drug-induced coma.

Three-year veteran, officer Gerald Veneziano, 26, of Belleville, was hit in the chest and abdomen and was airlifted to University Hospital in Newark.

Authorities said the officer was shot near Fairfield Road and North Hollywood Road. The shooting happened around 6 p.m. Saturday as he was on his way to work.

The officer was conscious enough to give a description of the suspects.

According to NorthJersey.com, the officer — who was not in uniform at the time of the shooting —underwent several hours of emergency surgery late Saturday, said Anthony Ambrose, chief detective for the Essex County Prosecutor's Office.

Deputy Police Chief Steven Gutkin said Fairfield has not had an officer shot in the 23 years he’s been on the force. “It’s hitting us all pretty hard right now,” he said.

Police are looking for a black Dodge Magnum that may have bullet holes from the officer's return fire. They say two black males were inside the car, which may have been stolen out of Tenafly, New Jersey. New Jersey police have alerted the New York Police Department, as the car may have been heading towards New York City.

Police had already investigated a couple leads of a black car with possible holes in it and a chopper was sent out after a sighting of a black Dodge Magnum with holes in it in Somerset, New Jersey.

The reward for information leading to the arrest of the suspect(s) wanted in connection with the shooting has been upped to $40,000. Anyone with information is asked to call Fairfield police detectives at 973-227-1400 or the Essex County Sheriff at (973) 877-TIPS.