Shooting in Atlantic City, New Jersey, injures 2 police officers, suspect dead, mayor says
A shooting in Atlantic City, New Jersey, sent two police officers to a hospital, one with life-threatening injuries, officials said Tuesday night.
The suspect who fired the shots is dead. On Wednesday, officials identified the suspect as 52-year-old Donald Gardner, aka Donald Capriotti, of Atlantic City. He's had numerous run-ins with law enforcement.
What to know about police officers shot in Atlantic City
The shooting happened in the area of the 100 block of North Florida Avenue at around 3 p.m., while the officers were serving a search warrant, according to police.
Suzette Jackson said she owns the property where Gardner lived at the time the shooting happened.
"My daughter is crying, 'Mom, I want to get out of here, come get me,'" she said. "Before I put the phone down, I hear all these gunshots. I'm like, 'Duck, duck.' I want to know why? That's how they do search warrants now? That's what they're doing?"
Police said the officers were taken to AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center after the shooting.
One officer who sustained life-threatening injuries was identified as Sgt. Christian Ivanov, with the department's SWAT team.
Ivanov is a husband and father of three. The Atlantic City Police Benevolent Association, the local police union, said Ivanov is facing an uncertain and difficult road ahead. Tuesday night, he was surrounded by his family, friends and other officers as he began the road to recovery.
As of Wednesday, Ivanov "continues to make positive progress and is doing much better, but he remains in the ICU," the ACPBA said.
The union previously described his condition as "stable but serious."
Officials identified the other officer as Robert Reynolds. The New Jersey Attorney General's Office said Reynolds fired the shots that killed Gardner.
Mayor Marty Small Sr. said Gardner shot at officers, including one near the head. He added that the officer was lucky to be wearing a helmet.
"My thoughts and prayers are with the two Atlantic City police officers who were wounded this afternoon, as well as their families, and the entire Atlantic City Police Department during this difficult time," Small said in a statement in part. "We are hopeful for their full and speedy recovery."
The shooting is under investigation by the New Jersey AG's Office.
It's unclear why police were serving the search warrant.
Suspect shot in Atlantic City had a criminal history
Family members said Gardner had been shot and paralyzed by police in 2013 during a manhunt.
Sources and court records show that Gardner spent lengthy amounts of time in prison for murder in the early 1990s.
Gardner also pleaded guilty to drug and weapons offenses in 2014 and spent more time behind bars.
