Officials: 285 bears killed during New Jersey's annual hunt

  TRENTON -- New Jersey's third state-sanctioned bear hunt resulted in 184 fewer kills than a year ago.

State environmental officials say 285 bears were killed during the six-day hunt that ended Saturday. Last year's hunt had yielded 469 bruins, while 592 were harvested during the 2010 hunt.

Preliminary data show 188 bears were killed in Sussex County. Forty-two were harvested in Morris County, while 32 were killed in Warren County and 23 in Passaic County.

The hunt aims to control the state's black bear population, now estimated at about 2,900 in the hunting area, about 500 fewer than in 2010. It took place in an area north of Interstate 78 and west of Interstate 287.

About 6,400 hunters participated in this year's hunt, or about 1,000 less than in 2011.

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Thief hits Jersey City firehouse during gas leak call

  By Bill King, Eyewitness NewsJERSEY CITY (WABC) -- Police in New Jersey are searching for a brazen thief who targeted a firehouse while firefighters were out on a call.

The suspect, who allegedly swiped an iPod and car keys last week from Engine 22/Ladder 4 in Jersey City, apparently got away on a bicycle.

Firefighters, who were responding to a gas leak, say this isn't the first time their house has been burglarized.

"It's definitely not the best feeling in the world," Battalion Chief Steven McGill said. "You're at work, you think everything is going to be safe there."

In this case, they told police they were returning from the call when they saw a man on a bike pedal out of the firehouse and head north on Ocean Avenue. They then found the rear door of the firehouse unlocked, and one firefighter discovered his $300 iPod was gone. A second had his car keys removed.

"In very urban areas, houses get robbed," he said. "On occasion, unfortunately, firehouses also do get broken into."

McGill believes the thief was targeting tools, after firefighters found several saws placed near the back door. He believes the robbery would've been much worse had the trucks not returned when they did.

"As you're protecting the community, usually the community takes the initiative to help protect you, also," he said> "And when this happens, it's upsetting."

The suspect was reportedly wearing a red hooded sweatshirt. The city is planning to install deadbolts to help prevent future incidents.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Jersey City police tip line at (201) 547-JAIL.

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Newark deli clerk murdered during botched robbery

  Web produced by Bill King, Eyewitness NewsNEWARK (WABC) -- A shooting during an apparent botched robbery at a grocery store left one man dead in Newark late Thursday night.

The clerk, described as a hard-working man who recently became a father, was help up at gunpoint and shot when he struggled with the thieves.

He was identified by those close to him as Jamil Bader, and he was killed while working inside the Family Grocery on Clinton Avenue around 10 p.m. It is a family business owned by the victim's father.

Police say he was confronted by three suspects who held up the store at gunpoint. Bader reportedly attempted to tackle one of the suspects when another came from behind and shot him in the back of the head.

Jamil's uncle was also in the store with customers and witnessed the horror unfold. Family members said Jamil was engaged to be married and had a 1-year-old daughter who was the light of his life.

Residents who live near the bodega were outraged.

"He works six days a week, 12 hours a day," one nearby resident said. "He wasn't your average...kid. He wasn't hanging in the street. He wasn't gang banging. He was working in the store with his father."

The suspects escaped in a dark-colored four-door vehicle. Police were looking for three men armed with a .40-caliber handgun.

It is believed they fled without any money.

A makeshift memorial has been set up at the scene.

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Suspect steals police cruiser during NJ break in

  Eyewitness NewsEDGEWATER (WABC) -- Police in New Jersey spent Monday morning searching for one of their own squad cars.

The cruiser was stolen by a suspect during an attempted break in of a jewelry store in Edgewater.

Police responded to the River Road store for a burglary in progress just after 1:30 a.m.

They caught two suspects attempting to break into the jewelry store, but a third suspect made his getaway in a marked police cruiser that was left unoccupied by one of the responding officers.

Police found the cop car around 9 a.m. a few miles away in Teaneck. The suspect is still on the run.

No officers were injured.

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Store owner shot and killed during robbery

  Eyewitness NewsNEWARK, N.J. (WABC) -- The owner of a mini mart in Newark was shot and killed during a robbery Tuesday evening.

It happened around 6 p.m. at the JNC Mini Market located at 346 14th Avenue corner of South 18th.

When Newark Police arrived, they found 37-year-old Miguel Torres shot inside the store.

He was taken to University Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The Homicide investigation is being conducted by the Essex County Prosecutor's Homicide Task Force and the Newark Police Department.

The investigation is active and investigators are currently viewing surveillance footage from around the location and other leads at this time.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Newark Police.

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Grandmother attacked during home invasion

NEW BRUNSWICK (WABC) -- Police in New Jersey are looking for the bandits who beat and robbed a grandmother, while her handicapped grandson was in another room.

"He told the other guy to give him the gun because he was going to shoot me," Beverly Marshall explained.

Thankfully, the three men did not kill her, but Ms Marshall's eye is black and blue. One of the men punched her after they broke through the glass patio door of her Commercial Avenue home early New Year's morning.

"It didn't hit me until I heard footsteps running upstairs," she said.

In the next bedroom was 14 year old Zaire, the grandson she cares for. He has cerebral palsy and needs constant care.

"He was really quiet. He knew something was going on. The guy came back and said he's sleep," Marshall said.

Could the criminals have come to this house mistaking it for another? They stole 50 dollars from her purse and a pair of earrings, but left smaller bills and her credit cards. They demanded valuables they would not find here.

"Asking me where was the safe and the gold? I told them I don't know what you're talking about," she said.

Marshall does have a wall of awards, gratitude for her years of service to many organizations. She wonders if any of this is retaliation for speaking up about crime in the area. On Christmas Eve, someone threw a rock through her kitchen window. Whatever is behind the attacks, she says it won't shut her down, although it has left her shaken.

"I am Blessed. It's something I won't forget. I haven't slept, but how could you?" she said.

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Fmr. Newark officer dies during basketball game

  Adam Stephan, Eyewitness NewsNEWARK, N.J. (WABC) -- A former Newark Police officer died Monday night during a pickup game of basketball at a local precinct station house.

The unidentified officer collapsed during the game at the Police Academy Gym at the 2nd Precinct Headquarters.

He collapsed at around 8 p.m. and was rushed to University Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The medical examiner will determine the cause of death.

The officer was recently laid off from the police department in November.

He is not being identified until his family has been notified.

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