NJ police capture gunman accused of shooting 2 Newark officers at 'close range'
New Jersey manhunt for Kendall Howard has come to a close
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}New Jersey law enforcement agents have captured the "armed and dangerous" suspect accused in the attempted murder of two Newark police officers on Tuesday afternoon.
Kendall Howard, 30, was taken into custody on Wednesday morning, when investigators captured him inside the residence building where police had been searching for him Tuesday, according to the Essex County Sheriff's Office and acting Essex County Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens II.
"Howard was at the residence, the location where the shooting took place. He was taken from there," Stephens told reporters Wednesday. He lauded the assistance of civilians, a "young woman" in particular, who helped police in making the arrest.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"That's what makes this job gratifying for anybody up here, because everybody here works as hard as we can to put the public in a good position," he said. "And when a good Samaritan who, [it's] not their job, what they find as their duty to really come forward and assist in that environment, that makes it all worthwhile. And you may not know her name now, but I think in the near future she'll be known because he deserves a great thanks for her efforts."
Howard, who went by the nickname "Book," shot two Newark police officers on Tuesday while they were trying to question him near Chancellor Avenue and Van Velsor Place, the prosecutor’s office said. Police were intensifying their manhunt on Wednesday.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Officers received a tip shortly before 1 p.m. Tuesday from a "concerned citizen" who thought they recognized a suspect from a previous shooting. Newark Public Safety Director Fritz G. Fragé said at the time officers were working to identify the suspect and went into a local building to try to do so.
Photo shows Kendall "Book" Howard, wanted for the attempted murder of two Newark police officers. (Essex County Prosecutor's Office)
They were unsuccessful inside the building, but Howard approached them in the parking lot in the back of the building as they were leaving, Fragé and other officials said.
TWO NEW JERSEY POLICE OFFICERS SHOT, OFFICERS SEARCH DOOR-TO-DOOR FOR SUSPECT
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The officers then tried to question the suspect, at which point "a violent interaction occurred," Fragé said. The suspect shot the officers at a "close range" and the officers fired back, officials said. He then ran into the building and was allegedly able to escape the area.
Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, right, arrives at the scene where two police officers were reported shot in Newark, New Jersey, on Tuesday. (AP Photo/Eduardo Munoz Alvarez)
One officer suffered a gunshot wound to the face and shoulder and required surgery. The second officer was shot in the leg, police said. Both officers were rushed to a local hospital and were expected to survive.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Crime scene of shooting in Newark, New Jersey, on Tuesday. (Emmett Jones/Fox News Digital)
Law enforcement personnel gather at the scene where two officers were reported shot in Newark, New Jersey, on Tuesday. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
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Police described Howard, who goes by the name "Book," as being 6-foot-3 inches tall, 180 to 200 pounds, and has brown eyes.
Howard, who police said has a criminal history, has been charged with attempted murder, unlawful possession of a weapon and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, the prosecutor’s office said.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Fox News' Shelly Xu contributed to this report.