A Newark NJ man has been convicted of opening fire on Newark police officers during a 2011 chase through the city’s West Ward.
37-year-old Khaalid Fate was convicted ofaggravated assault on a police officer for his role in the pursuit. Mr. Fate was driving a stolen car as he was hotly pursued by Newark NJ police officers. 45-year-old Gary Jones, a passenger in the stolen car, was convicted of resisting arrest.
The chase began near South 10th Street and Springfield Avenue. Newark police officers had responded to a LoJack alert of a car theft in the area. The officers spotted Mr. Fate and Mr. Jones in a stolen 2001 Dodge Caravan. When the officers attempted to stop the suspects, they sped off.
According to authorities, Mr. Fate shot at officers four (4) separate times, but the officers did not return fire. Thankfully, no officers were injured during the chase, but a police cruiser was struck by gunfire.
In Essex County Superior Court, Mr. Fate was acquitted of attempted murder of a police officer, the most serious charge on the indictment. However, Mr. Fate was convicted of aggravated assault on a police officer, eluding, resisting arrest, receiving stolen property, and weapons offenses.
At sentencing, scheduled for December 16, Mr. Fate faces as many as 40 years in New Jersey State Prison.
For more information, see the NJ.com article entitled “Man Convicted of Shooting at Newark Police During 2011 Chase.”
