Newark Man Charged in Cop Shooting

A Newark resident has been charged in the shooting of a city police officer who foiled the man’s robbery attempt of a Clinton Avenue business, the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office said Thursday.

Donald Easterling, 26, has been charged with robbery, two counts of aggravated assault, unlawful possession of a weapon and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose.

Easterling shot a 19-year veteran of the Newark Police Department who was responding Wednesday afternoon to a report of a robbery in progress at a retail establishment in the 300 block of Clinton Avenue, the prosecutor’s office said.

The police officer, whose identity was not released, suffered non-life-threatening injuries and has been released from the hospital. Easterling was also shot in the confrontation and has also been released from the hospital.

Easterling has been remanded to the Essex County Jail in lieu of $250,000 bail.