Jersey City Mayor Fulop on the cause and death of Police Officer Melvin Santiago

“Today was a horrible day for Jersey City.  At 0409 hours, Jersey City Police responded to the Walgreen’s at the corner of Communipaw Avenue and Kennedy Boulevard on a call of an armed robbery.  The first responding officers were Officers Santiago and Martinez, who responded from Bergen and Lexington.  The actor fired at the marked police car, striking Officer Santiago – who was still inside the vehicle – in the head.  Officer Melvin Santiago was pronounced dead shortly after at the Jersey City Medical Center.  Additional responding officers returned fire at the actor, who was shot and pronounced dead at the scene.  The armed security guard at the Walgreen’s stated that the actor struck him and took his weapon, which police believe was the weapon used in the shooting.  The incident remains under active investigation.

It is a tragic situation when any officer is killed in the line of duty.  Melvin was an officer who represented everything one would want to see in a police officer.  I know the entire city’s thoughts and prayers are with the Santiago family during this difficult time and we mourn together.”

Further updates will be released by the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office