The NJ State Attorney General's Office are investigating an officer-involved shooting during the overnight hours in Newark's Central Ward.
According to a preliminary investigation, at approximately midnight, Newark Police Headquarters received radio communications that an officer was being fired at by a gunman in the vicinity of Woodland Avenue and South 11th Street.
About a dozen units arrived at the scene and found a male suspect lying on the ground suffering a bullet wound in his chest at that location.
Reports say the officer frantically hid and dodged from several bullets fired off by the suspect, then fired off his service revolver shots that struck the victim.
Police say two other individuals were detained at the scene and are believed to be suspects who accompanied the injured suspect, who was rushed to University Hospital in critical condition.
Authorities say a weapon was recovered from the scene and is being processed at this time.
Circumstances surrounding the incident remain under investigation and no officers were struck by gunfire.