An Elizabeth man remains in critical condition as a result of a gunshot wound he received on Thursday evening, said Prosecutor Theodore J. Romankow. The suspect in the case later committed suicide.
According to the investigation, just after 4 p.m. on Sept. 24, 2009, Detectives with the Elizabeth Police Department were summoned to 322 Second Street where they discovered a 35-year-old Elizabeth man suffering from a gunshot wound. He was transported to University Hospital in Newark where he underwent surgery. As of Friday afternoon he was listed in extremely critical condition.
Detectives from The Union County Homicide Task Force and the Elizabeth Police Department quickly identified Samuel Diaz, 39 of Linden as the primary suspect in the case. The Homicide Task Force is typically called in situations where victims are in critical condition.
Complaints were later signed against Diaz and local police departments were asked to be on the lookout for Diaz.
On Friday Morning Linden Police Officer Angel Padilla was traveling in a marked police vehicle along Linden Avenue when he noticed a man walking south who fit Diaz’ description. When the officer made a U-turn to get a closer look, the man –later identified as Diaz – pulled out a handgun and fatally shot himself.
Diaz was taken to University Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 9:09 a.m.
Officer Padilla never exchanged words with Diaz and was still in his car and a good distance away from where the suspect killed himself, according to Linden Police Chief Michael Boyle. No one else was injured.
“We believe this was an isolated event, a personal matter,” said Romankow. “Several families have suffered because of this but there is no danger to the community at large.” |
