Two cops shot; suspect dead Multi-town pursuit leads to gunfire
6 years ago | 104 views | 0 
| 2 
| 
| 
| 2 | |
Jersey City resident Abraham Santiago, 29, was shot dead after allegedly trying to rob a taxicab in Hoboken. Hoboken Police Officer John Aguiar and county sheriff's officer Sgt. Christian Araujo were shot during pursuit of the suspect, and were recovering last week.
"We just want Officer Aguiar to know that we are very proud of him," said Hoboken Mayor David Roberts Thursday afternoon. "As soon as he is healthy enough, we're going to honor him with the highest award of valor possible."
According to published reports, Eulalia Rodriguez, the mother of the deceased suspect, said Thursday that her son had been subject to severe bouts of depression since the age of 21. Rodriguez added that she had tried to help her son on a number of occasions, but he refused all aid.
Joan Quigley, spokesperson for St. Mary's Hospital in Hoboken, said that Santiago had been employed as an orderly by the hospital from 1990 to 1995. "We have no record of problems with Mr. Santiago," said Quigley on Friday. "A few people remember him as being a pleasant person. We have no records of reprimands for him."
As it happened
John Hognacki, a resident of 414 Baldwin Ave. in the Heights section of Jersey City, said last week that he heard four to five shots Wednesday night. He said he was watching television when law enforcement agents shot Santiago outside.
"When I looked out the window, I saw the guy face down on the ground with two cops standing over him," Honacki added. "They were yelling at him: 'You shot a cop! You shot a cop!' "
Only 15 minutes earlier, at around 7:30 p.m., according to Hudson County Prosecutor Edward DeFazio, a man allegedly had tried to rob a taxicab driver on Washington Street in Hoboken.
According to DeFazio, "The actor, [allegedly] Abraham Santiago, a Jersey City resident, was holding up a taxicab. In the process, he shot the cab driver, but did not wound him seriously."
DeFazio said he was not sure why the robbery failed. But he said that witnesses told police that the robber fled on foot, heading west.
The suspect encountered Hoboken Officer John Aguiar, who was on patrol in the area of Jefferson Street.
"Before Officer Aguiar could get out of his car to approach the suspect," said DeFazio. "[the suspect] shot Aguiar in his marked patrol car."
According to Mayor David Roberts, Aguiar was shot in the chest and shoulder. The vest stopped the chest shot. "He sustained a direct hit to his chest," said Roberts. "He's is alive today because of his bulletproof vest."
DeFazio said Aguiar was taken to St. Mary Hospital for treatment. According to Roberts, Aguiar was released Thursday morning and was recovering at his home.
Allegedly grabbed an SUV
Hudson County Sheriff Joseph Cassidy said that after the suspect injured the police officer, he managed to steal a Black Ford Explorer SUV, which was parked on Jefferson Street.
"How he went about stealing the car, we do not know at this time," Cassidy said. "Santiago fled toward Jersey City and was by that point being pursued by the Hoboken and Jersey City police departments, along with Transit Authority and Port Authority police officers."
According to one eyewitness, even after he was shot, Officer Aguiar gave chase on foot for about a block before keeling over in pain.
Up the Viaduct into JC
According to DeFazio, the chase came to an end near the intersection of Baldwin and St. Paul's avenues in Jersey City, but not before a Hudson County sheriff's officer was injured.
"[The suspect] was within a block of his Hopkins Street address [in Jersey City] when he abandoned the Ford Explorer," said DeFazio. "Two county police officers, Sgt. Christian Araujo and Det. Mark Bouchert, pursued Santiago, who brandished a .45 caliber handgun, before fleeing."
DeFazio said a foot chase ensued, with the officers trading shots with the suspect. Araujo was struck in the stomach by one of the bullets. DeFazio estimated that a total of 15 bullets were fired by the suspect and the officers during the chase, which lasted only a few minutes.
"Between eight and 10 rounds were fired by the county police officers," said DeFazio. "Officer Araujo kept up the pursuit of Santiago for another block after he was hit."
As of Thursday, county officials are still unaware of which of the officers fired the shot that killed Santiago, but said the suspect was shot in the back.
"Santiago was pronounced dead on arrival at Jersey City Medical Center," said DeFazio.
Carl Calica, a trauma surgeon at Jersey City Medical Center, said a single bullet pierced the anterior wall of Sgt. Araujo's stomach and then exited his body.
"Two wounds were created, one an entry wound and the second an exit wound," Calica explained. "Araujo was operated on and later transferred to the surgery ward, where he is still under observation."
John Hognacki, the Jersey City resident, said, "As soon as they shot the guy, there were about 20 to 30 patrol cars all over the street. I tell you, when I heard the shots and saw those cops, I dived under my window."
Hognacki added at least three cars near his apartment were pierced with bullet holes.
"The sheriff's officers were going door to door today to see if anyone had suffered any damage," Hognacki added.
"It could have been a lot worse," commented a woman named Cindy, who works at a nearby restaurant. "It gets quiet around here in the evening, but we have a lot of kids out there in the afternoon. That could have been really serious."
The deceased
DeFazio commented that Santiago "had been running amok" that night. He would not state whether Santiago was under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
"We will know that when we get the toxicology report," DeFazio stated.
DeFazio would not say whether Santiago had a prior record.
post a comment
comments (0)
no comments yet