Paramus Cop Recovering After Garden State Parkway Shooting

Officer Rachel Morgan Hit 3 Times, But Stable After Surgery

February 7, 2011 11:45 PM

Suspect Michael Sean Carmody (Photo/Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office)

Filed under

Heard On 1010 WINS, WCBS, WFAN, Local, News, NJ News, Seen On CBS 2HD, Watch + Listen

PARAMUS, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) – A Paramus police officer was recovering from surgery Monday, in critical but stable condition, at Hackensack University Medical Center as police investigate what sparked a late-Sunday night shooting.

Officer Rachel Morgan, a two-year veteran of the force, was pursuing driver Michael Carmody south on Route 17 in Paramus around 11 p.m. Sunday.

The Westwood resident, according to authorities, sped off, lost control and crashed on the entrance ramp to the Garden State Parkway.

On Monday night the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office said it filed attempted murder charges against Carmody, 23.

1010 WINS’ John Montone with the latest on Officer Rachel Morgan’s condition

Paramus Cop Recovering After Garden State Parkway Shooting

Police Investigate Garden State Parkway Shooting (credit: CBS 2)

“He did a 180. Officer Morgan approached the car and as she was doing such the suspect immediately opened fire on her,” said Paramus Mayor Richard LaBarbieria.

She managed to get several shots off at the suspect, along with a backup police officer who also opened fire.

“The suspect was hit at least five to six times,” said LaBarbieria.

Morgan, 31, was hit three times, but she was wearing a bulletproof vest which may have saved her life. However, LaBarbieria told 1010 WINS’ Steve Sandberg the officer was shot on the side where she was not protected by the vest.

1010 WINS Reporter Steve Sandberg Spoke With Mayor LaBarbiera About The Shoot-Out

As dozens of police from other jurisdictions showed up on the scene, Officer Morgan was rushed to Hackensack University Medical Center and into surgery for hours.

“The operation went on for approximately three hours. Everybody’s hopes had come to be realized when we heard the good news that everything went well,” LaBarbieria said.

The suspect was taken to St. Joseph’s Hospital with life-threatening injuries.

“He’s had a troubled life and what I heard about this didn’t surprise me so much but he … it’s shocking,” Michael Machorek, Carmody’s neighbor, told CBS 2′s Christine Sloan.

On his MySpace page, Carmody talks about brushes with the law, including drugs and DWI arrests.

He writes: “I been through hell and I’m still in it. Caught up in the legal system since I was 15 … still fighting to get out of it. When my mom died I lost my head.”

A neighbor who saw police at Carmody’s Westwood home Monday morning said he thought Carmody had left his troubles behind.

“I saw police cars and my initial thought was oh no he’s up to something no good. I drove down Route 17, wanted to take the parkway exit, but I couldn’t. I had no idea that was related to that,” Machorek said.

As for Officer Morgan, the mayor said, “She’s a strong person and a great cop and we wish nothing but the best for her.”

This is the second officer in New Jersey in less than a month to be shot in the line of duty. Officer Chris Matlosz was killed in Lakewood last month.

The name of the other officer involved has not been released, pending the outcome of an investigation.

Has New Jersey become too violent? Sound off in the comments section.

(TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

Mr. Armenia

Maybe the cop was agressive?

gahdoo99

Aboosh strikes again.

Robert Henke

The female police office should fully recover, go to the bedside of the perp, and put aanother six in him.

Larry Schwarz

Ditto

Paul G

As a NJ resident, I can say MOST of these cops have a chip on their shoulder, MOST are unprofessional and MOST think that they are God. I truly believe that a majority of them were bullied in high school which leads them to act this way as adults. BUT, this guy got what he deserved! This is NOT excessive force. The officer(s) had every right to empty their clips on this guy and reload for more. This guy shoots at armed police officers, just imagine what would he do to an unarmed civilian. A menace to society is off the street!

bart s

really, u know MOST cops in the entire state, and they are unprofessional and act like god…really…MOST?!?!

Paul G

In my line of work, I deal with close to 1000 Police Officers per year. So the answer is Yes. Don’t misconstrue my statement, there are a lot of good men on the job.

Glenn

Sorry….should be hear………..not here.
Glenn

Lets me the suspects mother and here her claim that her son is an angel, altar boy, church choir member and so on. It’s time we see the families that bring these misfits into the world. Sterilization as its benefits.

bob

his mom died

Mr. Armenia

where is Al Sharpton

Bartsimpson

The guy was white, Sharpton doesnt care about white people.

mamar

you got that right, he is the racist

Devenio

Can you read? Are you stuck on stupid? Why the hell would Sharpton be here. You should be asking Wheres Hitler?
gahdoo99

stop representing the rest of us educated Armenians…you are just an aboosh person.

Abe Benesch

Me personally, I would like to hear ALL the facts of what happened before I throw the switch on the electric chair. I guess I’m just funny that way.

Devenio

Here’s the facts: The guy shot a cop. Case close. Fry him!

bob

He is already brain dead and on life support

Kim

You shoot a cop you should be shot yourself! end of story~!!
patricia

He had a gun, what other facts do you need. If you have a gun you are up to no good and should be put in jail and not let out, because that person will repeat the same violent behavior. Some people are just bad.

Molitor

Need to make stiffer penalties on drawing a gun vs. a cop and carrying a unliscened gun.

Devenio

Why? How much stiffer than life in prison can you get? On another note, most cops – many 90% are good. The other 10 percent need to be fired or buried.

DCLaw-1

Devenio, would it be okay, and less ignorant, if a person made the same general statement about a minority? Except, maybe adding that the 9:1 ration should e reversed.
Sgt Stendenko

Exactly, but at 90%, I think you are being overly generous….remeber, 10% committ the crimes, the other 90% look the other way.

01608

Gun v cop, okay but I like gut v anyone better. I don’t nor want a gun. DIE MO FO DIE… the end.

cs1482

what an ignorant comment.

dominick

@ cs1482 your an idiot. whos side are you on. he shoulda been chopped into little tiny bits an uses as fretilizer for the grass on the parkway

Devenio

If you are not a cop – you are not on the cops side. The police look at you like this: ITS THEM VS US.
Devenio

If you are not a cop – you are not on the cops side. The police look at you like this: ITS THEM VS US. Their job is to serve and protect themselves. They no longer stop crime – they investigate it. A crime must be committed before the police get involved.

ENGANJANI WANDERA

PEOPLE LETS GET TO THE POINT, THAT THUG SHOULD HAVE BEEN SHOT TO DEATH ON SPOT. WHY SHOULD SOME PEOPLE VALUE HIS LIFE WHEN HE SHOWED NO RESPECT FOR THE COPS.

SEAN HANNITH

HES WHITE

Micha

Why do we even take dregs like this to the hospital? let him bleed out… save the taxpayers some money ..

Devenio

Wait until it happens to you.

KPM 1602

Please use some common sense. It is not like one police officer shot 41 times! A cop is shot . How many police officers in Paramus and surrounding towns are going to respond? Well in Paramus, probalbly every single office that is ‘on duty’ … and I am sure a couple of off duty officers. If each responding officer acted within their power to return fire you would have to believe that 8 or 9 officers fired 4 to 5 times each. Not excessive… completely reasonable. Ask yourself. If ‘someone’ was trying to kill you. Would you fire back? How many times?
Fingers Crossed

Let’s all be rational and hope that the shooter is in lots of pain, and is receiving sub-par life-threatening medical care.
grant

CBS’s reporting of this story is pathetic.

If you want to read some details about what happened, check out NorthJersey. They actually put a little effort into the story.
tony

1st, my prayers for the officer & my wishes for a speedy and full recovery. Perhaps 1010 WINS should have a picture of the officer instead of the suspect !
All reports are that the suspect fired first…. How can this be a case of excessive force by the police??? if you shoot at a police officer you are shooting at all the rules of society and you had better expect a response such as this! I submit that 41 shots showed great restraint on the part of the officers on the scene!
THE METHADONIAN

i LOVE MY METHADONE
Mr. Armenia

valicia correction I did not realize the driver shot first/

valicia

thank you for realizing the error Mr. Armenia

friend of cops

if a skel shoots a cop, he should die. plain and simple

nobama2012

you mean shoots ‘at’ a cop

Mark E

This criminal ran from the law and then shot a cop with full intent. The back-up officers were MORE than justified to fire on an obviously violent and dangerous criminal.

I agree withVALICIA, if it was your relative that was shot, you’d want justice. Mr. Armenia unless you are a criminal yourself perhaps you’d better take a dose of Common Sense.

ladyv

People, MrArmenia is nothign but a troll. Check out SiLIve.com to see some of his other work. Don’t let him get to you!!

ratso

They need to arm these cops with assault rifles like they do in Alaska. THis mofo would have never had a chance as the officer would have had the ability to riddle his car with tons of lead. They also need better bullet proof vests to stop the higher caliber ammunition.
valicia

Mr. Armenia, if it was your wife, your sister, your mother shot..would you still be calling it excessive force? vutch Leo wife is correct… you are an esh if you truly believe what you wrote..shame on you
skeletorumbero

41 shots, not shot 41 times. Get a new line loser.

Dave Lasky

AND if womeone breaks into your house and starts killing your family who are you going to call, your borther, your friend next door, your drunk buddies on the corner, your coke sniffing buddies around the block? No you are going to call the police, and even though you are an ignorant slob, they will still come to help you and your family. Grow up and grow a set.

Joe

NJ: THERE IS A COP FOR EVERY 3 PEOPLE IN THAT STATE, AND THESE GUYS GET PAID 6 FIGURES IN MANY TOWNS AND THEY DON’T DO MUCH OF ANYTHING…..You spit the wrong way in NJ and people call the police, never have i lived in a state that is so police-driven and filled with cop-lovers. Then you go to NYC and the police are underpaid and the citizens don’t pay much respect to them. Funny how night and day two states are that are next to one another. I prefer NYC, at least you can live your life there without being probed and harassed by the police. Too bad this happened though.
Donny Ramone

They’ll still come by and help….themselves to whatever of value is left in your house.

Mr. Armenia

Excessive force by the police. An civil rights investigation is a must.

LEO wife

Mr Armenia, you are an embarrassment to all Armenians! Amot amot amot! This was no excessive force esh!
John

There is something wrong you with you. You must be an utter moron or one of his criminal cohorts. Nice picture of the perp. Lovely orange suit he’s wearing. He fires at her hitting her and the police are to believe he can be reasoned with. I hope he makes it. Death would be too easy on this piece of human garbage.
Mr. A

Are you on drugs? A guy opens fire on the police and you say the police used excessive force? That guy should be hanged. I agree with your wife

mike jones

let him go..hes a white guy…whites r goooooooood!

JR

Shot a cop, go to jail for life, period, o if’s, and’s or but’s about it.

John

Do you always ask stupid questions? No reply necessary then.
nobama2012

monkey

vengeance

People are losing their minds! What is going on in this world?

mike jones

chickens r coming home to roost!

1 2 Next »

News

Paramus Cop Recovering After Garden State Parkway Shooting

Officer Rachel Morgan Hit 3 Times, But Stable After Surgery

February 7, 2011 11:45 PM

Filed under

Related tags

Latest News Video

R.I.P. James Gandolfini

Who’s Your Hero?

Wax Or Real?

New Update Available

Select a Live Stream

News, Sports and Talk Radio

Music Radio