Woman charged in shooting of police officer in Montclair: officials

Editor’s note: The story in the video player aired on April 15, 2024.

MONTCLAIR, N.J. (PIX11) – A woman has been charged in connection with the shooting of a police officer in Montclair, New Jersey, on Monday, authorities said.

The shooting happened in a neighborhood in the 100 block of Forest Street in Montclair around 1:10 p.m., according to the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office. Police initially went to a home in the neighborhood after receiving reports of an armed person, authorities said.

The officers were met with gunfire when they approached the home, according to the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office. Officer Michael Medrano, 33, was shot in his shoulder area, authorities said.

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Another Montclair officer returned fire and shot the suspect, who authorities identified as 39-year-old Maryann Swain.

Medrano and Swain were both hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries, authorities said. Medrano has since been released from the hospital. Swain remains hospitalized.

Swain was charged with aggravated assault, endangering the welfare of a child, unlawful possession of a weapon, and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, according to the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office.

Witnesses said the suspect is a mother of two children who moved into the neighborhood about six months ago.

“I was walking up to my house and the officer said, ‘Run, run, run!’ said Marilyn Sprague, a witness. “I’m still asking myself what made her do something like that. I just can’t comprehend it at all.”

Finn Hoogensen is a digital journalist who has covered local news for more than five years. He has been with PIX11 News since 2022. See more of his work here.

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