Suspect in shooting of school safety officer in philadelphia found hiding in new jersey
Yellow law enforcement tape isolating crime scene. Blurred view of city, toned in red and blue police car lights

Suspect in shooting of school safety officer in Philadelphia found hiding in New Jersey

Posted by
1 min read
July 8, 2025

PHILADELPHIA — A 28-year-old man has been arrested in New Jersey in connection with the June 29 shooting of a School Safety Officer in Philadelphia, authorities said Saturday.

Ariza Giansteban was taken into custody on July 5 in Paramus, N.J., nearly a week after an on-duty officer was shot outside the 300 block of North Columbus Boulevard at approximately 1:47 a.m., according to investigators. He is currently awaiting extradition to Philadelphia.

Following the incident, police identified the suspect vehicle as a white Kia Sportage, model year between 2017 and 2019, which was seen fleeing eastbound on Girard Avenue from 5th Street shortly after the shooting. The vehicle was described as missing a front license plate and bearing a sticker in the upper left-hand corner of the windshield.

The suspect was initially described as a Hispanic male wearing a red or orange shirt, with a black bowl-style haircut.

Authorities have not yet released details about the charges Giansteban will face or the current condition of the wounded officer. No further information has been made public.

The investigation into the shooting remains active.

Phil Stilton

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