I can't remember anything quite like this. Hackensack may be relatively "safe" when compared with Paterson or Newark but we have our share of violent crime. Glad this guy is off the street.
Nice work HPD. Be safe out there.
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Alleged Hackensack gunman faces attempted murder charge in shootout with policeMonday, July 29, 2013 Last updated: Monday July 29, 2013, 6:37 PM
BY DENISA R. SUPERVILLE
STAFF WRITER
The Record
HACKENSACK – The city man involved in last Monday’s shootout with police officers is facing three counts of attempted murder charges along with weapons offenses, the Bergen County Prosecutor said Monday.
Investigators working the scene at 1st and Sussex streets in Hackensack, July 23, 2013.
ELIZABETH LARA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Robert Leonardis, 22, of Shafer Place, was charged with three counts of attempted murder on a police officer — representing attempts on the lives of three city police officers in connection to the July 22 incident, Bergen County Prosecutor John L. Molinelli said.
Leonardis was also charged with possession of a firearm for an unlawful purpose, possession of a handgun without a permit and obstruction of justice, Molinelli said.
Leonardis, who was in a coma last week, remained at Hackensack University Medical Center on Monday under the custody of the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office, Molinelli said. He was expected to recover from the injuries sustained while trading shots with police officers, the prosecutor said.
Although the warrants were issued around 4:30 p.m. on Friday, the charges against Leonardis were not released until Monday. Leonardis’ bail was set at $1.5 million, authorities said.
Leonardis' attorney, Vincent Basile, said on Monday that he would not comment on the charges.
"Right now, the family and I are concentrating on what his chances are for recovery," Basile said.
Leonardis has been taken off a respirator on Friday but remains in the intensive care unit, drifting in and out of consciousness, Basile said.
Leonardis was shot multiple times just after 1 a.m. last Monday, along First Street, near the intersection of Sussex Street, police said.
Basile said Leonardis was shot several times in the torso, right leg and right arm. He said he does not know exactly how many times Leonardis was hit.
Authorities said he fired at police officers who were responding to a tip about a man with a gun who was walking near a public housing complex. Leonardis, who police say has a previous criminal history, fled when the two officers confronted him on Newman Street and Russell Place, police said.
Police allege he then fired at a patrol car, shattering a windshield and narrowly missing a police officer. Two officers chased Leonardis, who turned around during the pursuit and fired at the officers, police said.
The prosecutor’s office said last week that all four of the officers involved in the incident fired their weapons, although it remained unclear how many shots were fired.
Molinelli elaborated on Monday that the weapon recovered at the scene was an AMT ACP backup .45-caliber handgun.
Staff writer Kibret Markos contributed to this article. Email: superville@northjersey.com
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