WEST ORANGE, N.J. (1010 WINS) — An arrest has been made after a 27-year-old off-duty West Orange police officer was grazed by a bullet when he tried to stop a fight between the suspect and another man at a convenience store.
Shaahid Forshee, 36, of East Orange, is charged with attempted murder, aggravated assault, unlawful possession of a weapon and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose.
Officials said the officer entered the store on South Valley Road Monday at around 3 p.m. and witnessed the fight between them.
Forshee was allegedly armed with a handgun when the officer intervened. During the struggle, authorities said the suspect hit the officer with his gun and fired his weapon, striking him in the head.
The bullet grazed the officer's head, which caused non-life-threatening injuries. He was taken to University Hospital, where he was in stable condition.
Forshee fled and was later arrested in Newark. The person with whom the suspect allegedly fought also fled the scene.
He is currently being held at the Essex County Correctional Facility in Newark. Forshee was scheduled to make his first court appearance Tuesday in Central Judicial Processing Court.
