(credit: Newark Police Department)
PATERSON, N.J. (CBSNewYork) – An off-duty Newark detective was shot and killed early Monday.
The shooting occurred around 3:30 a.m. outside Sunrise Gentlemen’s Lounge near Straight Street and Getty Avenue.
Police say a robber approached 32-year-old Det. Michael Morgan as he was talking outside with a dancer from the club. Police believe there was a struggle, and Morgan was shot once in the side.
1010 WINS’ Al Jones reports
Paterson Police and and the Passaic County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene.
Morgan was transported to St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead nearly 90 minutes after the shooting.
CBS 2′s Jay Dow reports the woman Morgan was with was not injured.
Newark Police Chief Sheila Coley characterized Morgan — a six-year department veteran — as one of Newark’s best officers.
“One of our finest, one of our brightest stars,” Coley said. “He worked in one of our special enforcement units and it’s going to be a great loss.”
New Jersey’s largest police union reportedly has offered a $25,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the shooter.
A woman who lives next door to the Sunrise Gentleman’s Lounge told CBS 2 she’s not surprised to hear that violence broke out – outside her front door.
“This use to be a quiet neighborhood until Sunrise showed up,” she said.
The gunman is still on the loose.
Police suspect the same person was responsible for another robbery on a nearby street shortly before the incident that left Morgan dead.
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