Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray and Newark Police Director Samuel A. DeMaio announced today that Rasul Burt, 30, of East Orange has been charged with attempted murder for shooting an off-duty Essex County sheriff’s office last night at Mercedes and Mink, a bar on Springfield Avenue in Newark.
The 25-year-old off-duty Essex County Sheriff’s officer was leaving the bar at approximately 2 a.m. The preliminary investigation indicates there was some sort of verbal altercation between the officer and two other men. One man produced a weapon at which point the Sheriff’s officer fired his weapon striking the man who drew his gun.
As the investigation of this incident progressed, it was determined that a third individual, a male, was shot during this incident. This third male is in stable condition at University Hospital. The investigation is continuing.
The officer was treated and released from the hospital today. His name is not being released at this time.
Burt, who is still hospitalized, was charged with attempted murder, two counts of aggravated assault and weapons charges. Bail was set at $250,000 by the Honorable Peter J. Vazquez, J.S.C.
The investigation is active and ongoing. No further information is available at this time.
These are allegations. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until they plead guilty or are found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
