Bullet grazes head of off-duty cop in West Orange, NJ

WEST ORANGE — Two people have been arrested after a police officer was grazed in the head by a gunshot Monday afternoon.

Essex County Prosecutor's Office spokeswoman Katherine Carter said the off-duty West Orange police officer was shot on South Valley Road around 3 p.m.

The officer was intervening in an attempted robbery at a Krauszers convenience store when a single shot was fired, according to West Orange police spokesman Joe Fagan.

Neither Carter nor Fagan disclosed the identity of the officer.

Vehicle used in the shooting of a West Orange police officer surrounded at a gas station in Newark 12/27/21 (RLS Metro Breaking News)

Arrest at a gas station

The vehicle used in the shooting was found about 5 miles away in Newark at the Exxon gas station at South Orange Avenue and Bergen Street across from University Hospital.

Two suspects were arrested there, officials said.

Photos show a large police presence surrounding the gas pumps.

West Orange Mayor Robert Parisi told RLS Metro Breaking News the officer is OK.

Contact reporter Dan Alexander at Dan.Alexander@townsquaremedia.com or via Twitter @DanAlexanderNJ

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