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Contact: Mark Spivey, Union County Prosecutor’s Office 908-527-4621; mspivey@ucnj.org

Ahmad Khan Rahami, 28, has been charged with five counts of attempted murder of a law enforcement officer after an exchange of gunfire with police today, acting Union County Prosecutor Grace H. Park announced Monday. 

Rahami also is charged with second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon and second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose.

At approximately 10:30 a.m. on Monday morning, a uniformed Linden police officer approached a man later identified as Rahami outside a bar on East Elizabeth Avenue, according to the investigation. At that time, Rahami immediately produced a handgun and shot the officer in the torso, striking him in his protective vest.

Additional patrol officers responding to the scene engaged Rahami in an exchange of gunfire that ended when Rahami was shot multiple times outside of an auto repair shop on East Elizabeth Avenue, several blocks west of where he was initially approached.

A handgun was recovered from Rahami at the scene. Rahami was immediately transported to a local hospital for treatment and has since undergone surgery. Neither the police officer who was struck by gunfire nor a second officer who was struck in the head by a fragment of a bullet suffered life-threatening injuries.

Bail for Rahami was set at $5.2 million by state Superior Court Judge Regina Caulfield.

This defendant was wanted for questioning in a federal investigation being led by the FBI regarding explosive devices found and detonated over the weekend in New Jersey and New York City. That investigation is continuing, and any media inquiries regarding it should be referred to the FBI’s Newark office at 973-792-3020.

Convictions on first-degree criminal charges are commonly individually punishable by 10 to 20 years in state prison, while second-degree charges typically result in terms of 5 to 10 years.

These criminal charges are mere accusations. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

The Union County Bomb squad, the Sheriff’s Office and the Prosecutor’s Office responded last night in the safe handling of the bomb incident at the Midtown Train Station in Elizabeth.

Union County Freeholder Vice Chairman Sergio Granados, Freeholders Bette Jane Kowalski and Vernell Wright, Union County Sheriff Joseph Cryan and Union County Manager Alfred Faella joined local veterans at the Union County POW/MIA Remembrance Day ceremony outside the Union County Courthouse in Elizabeth. The guest speaker was Lieutenant Colonel Steven Brozak, USMC Retired. The annual event is sponsored by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders to honor and remember prisoners of war and those missing in action (POW/MIA). The National POW/MIA Recognition Day is observed each year on the third Friday of September. (Photos by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Art and Music Gone Wild on Stage – Fun for the Whole Family

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is proud to bring a sensory friendly performance of the exciting, interactive, and spectacular ARTRAGEOUS to the stage at the Union County Performing Arts Center on Sunday, October 2 at 3:00 p.m.

All tickets are $8 per person and can be purchased through the Union County Performing Arts Center at ucpac.org or by calling the Box Office at 732-499-8226.

“The series of sensory-friendly music, theater, and dance performances offer a relaxed and safe environment for audiences and are specially adapted to help reduce disturbances and increase access for children and adults of all abilities,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen. “The Freeholder Board is proud to partner with the visual and performing artists of Artrageous to bring this fun, interactive, family event to the community.”

ARTRAGEOUS! is the one of a kind interactive art and music experience that has CBS raving “Go see this show!” Giant works of art jump to life with amazing speed unveiling larger than life icons and masterpieces in just moments, all the while there is constant activity on stage, attracting your attention and delighting your senses with energy, spirit and action. Have all this live painting accompanied by amazing vocals, creative choreography, high energy live music with unforgettable audience interaction and you will have experienced a journey of wild inspiration and fun – its Artrageous.

For each of the performances in Union County’s Sensory Friendly Theatre series the theatre environment at the Union County Performing Arts Center is adjusted to provide a sensory-friendly, comfortable and judgment-free space that is welcoming for all families.

Autism Friendly Spaces implements the supportive atmosphere at each of the sensory-friendly performances. For more information on what to expect at a Sensory Friendly Theatre performance visit ucpac.org/sensory-friendly-theatre.

Additional support for the sensory-friendly performance of Artrageous is provided by CRBard Inc.

For more information or to purchase tickets call the Union County Performing Arts Center, 732-499-8226 or visit ucpac.org. The UCPAC Box Office, located at 1601 Irving Street, Rahway, NJ, is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11:00 AM until 5:00 PM and is also open late on Thursdays until 8:00 PM.

For information on additional Union County recreational programs for people with disabilities age five and up, call the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation at 908-527-4781 or visit ucnj.org.

 

Union County Freeholders Bette Jane Kowalski and Vernell Wright attend the mobile Aging Service Kiosk (ASK) information event at the Westfield Community Center where Michele Robinson of the Union County Division on Aging explains county programs to Florence Wetzel and her mother Marion Wetzel.

The ASK events are designed to provide residents with a convenient, friendly way to find out about services for the aging, and for their families and caregivers.

For more information about ASK and other programs of the Union County Division on Aging and Disability Resource Connection, call 1-888-280-8226 toll free or visit online at ucnj.org.

(Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County Freeholder Vice Chairman Sergio Granados and Freeholder Mohamed S. Jalloh joined Union County College President Dr. Margaret McMenamin and students at the opening of the college’s Hispanic Heritage Month and Hispanic Serving Institution Week Celebration at the Union County College Cranford campus. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County Freeholders Bette Jane Kowalski and Alexander Mirabella congratulate Olympian Sydney McLaughlin during the Union Catholic High School Sydney McLaughlin Recognition Event in Scotch Plains. McLaughlin, a senior at Union Catholic, qualified for the U.S. Olympic Team in the 400-meter intermediate hurdles at the age of 16, and advanced to the semifinal round in the 400 hurdles at the Olympic Games in Rio last month.

This summer she became the youngest member of the U.S. Olympic track and field team since 1972.

(Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders along with the Department of Parks & Recreation invites everyone to attend the 35th Annual Harvest Festival on Sunday, September 25 at Trailside Nature and Science Center, 452 New Providence Road in Mountainside from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m., rain or shine. This year’s Harvest Festival is sponsored by Whole Foods Market and ShopRite, both of Clark.

Harvest Festival is a celebration of Early American life featuring music and entertainment, storytelling, Native American cooking display, a petting zoo, pony rides, Colonial and Native American crafts, children’s games and crafts, food, a pumpkin patch and the ever popular scarecrow building.

“This event gives those in attendance an opportunity to see early American culture and history come to life while walking through the festival grounds in the picturesque Watchung Reservation,” said Union County Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen. “Visitors of all ages will enjoy this fascinating, fun-filled event.”

Admission to the Harvest Festival is $4 per person, with children ages 6 and younger admitted free of charge. There may be a fee charged for some of the activities.

For more information on Trailside Nature and Science Center please visit www.ucnj.org/trailside.