EDISON – A 23-year-old Rahway man has been charged with four counts of attempted murder after allegedly firing multiple shots at police officers as he fled.
Randy R. Jackson was charged on Sept. 26 with four counts of attempted murder in the first degree, one count of unlawful possession of a weapon, and one count of possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, both second degree crimes, according to Middlesex County Acting Prosecutor Christopher L.C. Kuberiet.
Through a preliminary investigation, Edison police responded to Mr. Tire at 280 Route 1 shortly after receiving a call requesting assistance regarding a dispute at 10:46 a.m. on Sept. 26, police said.
When police arrived, they made contact with Jackson, who then fled into the parking lot of Open Road Mini-Cooper of Edison and allegedly fired two shots at police, police said.
A foot pursuit led police into the surrounding neighborhood where Jackson allegedly fired additional shots at the police officers. Police returned fire and then apprehended the suspect. No one was injured during the exchange of gunfire, police said.
Due to shots being fired in the vicinity, the Irving Primary School in Highland Park was in lock down, and the Highland Park middle and high schools were in shelter in place, police said.
Following the shooting, the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office responded and secured the scene. The state Office of the Attorney General was notified in accordance with guidelines governing the use of force by police. It was determined that the prosecutor’s office would handle the investigation.
Jackson is being held at the Middlesex County Adult Correction Center in North Brunswick pending a detention hearing in Middlesex County Superior Court in New Brunswick.
Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Erik Larsen of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office at 732-745-3263.