Asbury Park Press | Story
Address:http://www.app.com/news/app/story/0,20878,513234,00.html
February 15, 2002 The Jersey Shore’s News Off-duty detective shoots
intruder at day care center
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

NEWARK — While 2- and 3-year-olds played at a day care center upstairs,
a police officer and a three-time felon were locked in a life-and-death
struggle.

It ended only after the intruder was chased down after being shot twice.
The officer and children were unhurt.

Police gave this account:

The off-duty detective, Shawn Clark, was delivering milk to the Brighter
Tomorrows Children’s Academy and Enrichment Center when he came upon
Muta Parker on the first floor of the building, holding an electric
screwdriver and a power saw. It was just before 9 a.m. Thursday.

Clark identified himself and told Parker to drop the tools. Parker
pulled a knife and jabbed it at the seven-year police veteran.

Scuffling, they fell to the floor, with Parker on top, attempting to
stab the detective in the head.

While on his back, Clark reached his gun and fired one shot from his
hip, wounding Parker.

Parker began running out the building, but Clark tackled him on the
stoop. Parker broke free and again attempted to stab the officer.
Clark shot him again.

Parker then ran several blocks to his brother’s house, who refused to
let the bloodied man enter and called police. Parker was arrested and a
knife recovered.

Police spokesman Sgt. Robert Koval said he was not surprised Parker was
able to run after being hit twice with 9mm slugs.

“It’s not unusual. A person gets shot and the adrenaline takes over,”
Koval said Friday.

Parker, 30, underwent surgery at University Hospital, which listed him
in critical condition.
He was charged with assaulting an officer, robbery, resisting arrest and
weapons charges.

Parker had four outstanding warrants, from East Orange, Irvington,
Newark and Orange, all for resisting arrest, Koval said.

http://www.robertwaters.net