Armed carjacker shot by police after shooting at rideshare driver in north jersey
Yellow law enforcement tape isolating crime scene. Blurred view of city, toned in red and blue police car lights

Armed carjacker shot by police after shooting at rideshare driver in North Jersey

Posted by
1 min read
June 16, 2025

NORTH ARLINGTON, N.J. — A Bayonne man was shot by law enforcement Saturday after allegedly firing a handgun at a ride-share driver and stealing the vehicle in Kearny, officials said.

The incident began around 3:51 p.m. when Kearny police, under Chief Scott Macfie, responded to a reported carjacking near Belleville Turnpike and Kearny Avenue, according to Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella. Investigators determined that the suspect, identified as 42-year-old Emmanuel Etienne, was a passenger in the ride-share vehicle when he fired a handgun from the backseat toward the driver. The bullet struck the interior of the car but did not hit the driver.

The ride-share driver was able to exit the vehicle, and Etienne then took control of the car and fled the scene. Law enforcement located the stolen vehicle within an hour on Porete Avenue in North Arlington, with Etienne behind the wheel.

During the encounter in North Arlington, Etienne was shot by police officers. He was transported to a local hospital, treated for a gunshot wound, and later discharged into police custody.

Multiple charges filed

Following an investigation by the Kearny Police Department, Etienne was charged with first-degree attempted murder, first-degree armed carjacking, second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and third-degree possession of a firearm.

Etienne is being held at the Hudson County Correctional Center in Kearny pending further court proceedings.

The Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Chief Matthew Finck, is overseeing the investigation into the police encounter.

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.

Don't Miss

Exit mobile version