Suspect held in cop shooting
By Roman J. Uschak, Staff Writer
A Nutley man has been arrested in connection with the shooting earlier this year of a police officer who lives in Belleville.
Preye L. Roberts, 24, was charged with attempted murder, unlawful possession of a weapon and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose in conjunction with the shooting of Fairfield Police Officer Gerald Veneziano on Jan. 30 in Fairfield, according to Acting Essex County Prosecutor Robert L. Laurino.
Veneziano, 26, was off-duty and on his way to work in Fairfield when he exchanged gunfire with a suspect near Fairfield and North Hollywood roads. He was wounded several times in the chest and abdomen and has been hospitalized since.
Roberts had been arrested by Union Township Police in the early morning hours of Feb. 13 on Route 22 for allegedly discharging a weapon. He was also in possession of 9mm ammunition, police said. He has since been held in the Union County jail on $100,000 bail.
The ammunition Roberts had in his possession was subsequently entered into the Integrated Ballistics Identification System, or IBIS. That system assists law enforcement officials in comparing ballistics and weapons evidence.
Veneziano was able to identify the person who shot him in the January incident. It was also learned that Roberts had rented a black Dodge Caliber vehicle with the letter “W” in its license plate, a detail that Veneziano had earlier reported. Roberts was found to be in possession of that vehicle on the day of the shooting, and the Caliber has since been impounded by the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office.
Arrest warrants in the shooting were issued for Roberts, and bail was set at $500,000 by Essex County Superior Court Judge Peter Vasquez.
A Nutley man has been arrested in connection with the shooting earlier this year of a police officer who lives in Belleville.
Preye L. Roberts, 24, was charged with attempted murder, unlawful possession of a weapon and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose in conjunction with the shooting of Fairfield Police Officer Gerald Veneziano on Jan. 30 in Fairfield, according to Acting Essex County Prosecutor Robert L. Laurino.
Veneziano, 26, was off-duty and on his way to work in Fairfield when he exchanged gunfire with a suspect near Fairfield and North Hollywood roads. He was wounded several times in the chest and abdomen and has been hospitalized since.
Roberts had been arrested by Union Township Police in the early morning hours of Feb. 13 on Route 22 for allegedly discharging a weapon. He was also in possession of 9mm ammunition, police said. He has since been held in the Union County jail on $100,000 bail.
The ammunition Roberts had in his possession was subsequently entered into the Integrated Ballistics Identification System, or IBIS. That system assists law enforcement officials in comparing ballistics and weapons evidence.
Veneziano was able to identify the person who shot him in the January incident. It was also learned that Roberts had rented a black Dodge Caliber vehicle with the letter “W” in its license plate, a detail that Veneziano had earlier reported. Roberts was found to be in possession of that vehicle on the day of the shooting, and the Caliber has since been impounded by the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office.
Arrest warrants in the shooting were issued for Roberts, and bail was set at $500,000 by Essex County Superior Court Judge Peter Vasquez.
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