NEWARK, N.J. (1010 WINS/AP)  -- A police officer shot and killed a stabbing suspect during a confrontation Wednesday afternoon in the basement of a Newark business.


Al Jones Reports

Police Director Garry J. McCarthy says police responded to reports of a dispute Wednesday afternoon at an appliance and furniture shop at 50 Broadway involving a man with a knife.

Francisco Martes, 40, got into an argument with the store owner at around 3 p.m. and slashed him in the arm, police said. Martes then ran to a neighboring building at 52 Broadway where police found him in a hallway.

The officer ordered Martes to drop his weapon, but he lunged at the officer instead, authorities said. The officer, a 14-year veteran of the police force, then opened fire and shot Martes several times. 

A knife and five bullet casings were recovered at the scene.

It was not immediately clear what spurred the shooting, McCarthy said, because officers had not yet given statements to investigators.
 
Martes was shot in the torso and was taken to University Hospital, where he died a short time later. The officer, who was not injured, was also taken to University Hospital for observation.

The store owner, who was not seriously injured, knew Martes and had allowed him to stay in the basement, McCarthy said. He told police Martes, who was described as emotionally disturbed, had been acting erratically in recent days.

Police said Martes, an Irvington resident, had been arrested several times in Newark and Irvington over the past few years; twice for assaulting a police officer and once for attempting to disarm a police officer.

Inset photo by 1010 WINS' Al Jones: Hallway at 52 Broadway where Martes was shot