sws4420
04-11-2005, 02:23 PM
IRVINGTON, N.J. - The father of a 4-month-old girl shot and wounded the infant’s grandfather Monday, fled in a car with the baby and her mother, and then was in a standoff with police after a chase across the state, authorities said.
A statewide alert was issued and the car stopped in a Lopatcong neighborhood, about 55 miles west of Irvington, where the shooting happened.
Officers took cover behind houses and a police vehicle near the car, and a police helicopter hovered overhead.
An Amber Alert was issued shortly before 10 a.m. for Jada Saunders, age 4 months.
She was taken by her father, Almutah Saunders, along with her mother, Erika Turner, according to the alert.
The alert said the suspect threatened to commit murder and kill himself, but authorities did not release more details about the threats.
After an altercation, the girl’s grandfather was struck in the leg and was expected to survive, state police spokesman Stephen Jones said.
Irvington Mayor Wayne Smith said the suspect was wanted for a prior abduction of Turner, but officers had been unable to find him at his last known address, in East Orange.
A statewide alert was issued and the car stopped in a Lopatcong neighborhood, about 55 miles west of Irvington, where the shooting happened.
Officers took cover behind houses and a police vehicle near the car, and a police helicopter hovered overhead.
An Amber Alert was issued shortly before 10 a.m. for Jada Saunders, age 4 months.
She was taken by her father, Almutah Saunders, along with her mother, Erika Turner, according to the alert.
The alert said the suspect threatened to commit murder and kill himself, but authorities did not release more details about the threats.
After an altercation, the girl’s grandfather was struck in the leg and was expected to survive, state police spokesman Stephen Jones said.
Irvington Mayor Wayne Smith said the suspect was wanted for a prior abduction of Turner, but officers had been unable to find him at his last known address, in East Orange.