A city man was arrested with an assault rifle moments after reports of gunfire on 12th Avenue late Thursday afternoon, according to police director Jerry Speziale.
Samuel Lesane, 27-year-old, has been charged with unlawful possession of an assault rifle, possession of a weapon for unlawful purpose, and possession of high capacity magazine.
Police received an alert of gunfire on 12th Avenue and East 23rd Street at around 5:45 p.m.
Detective James Jenkins immediately checked a computer monitor that displayed live video feed of the area.
Jenkins observed Lesane walking towards a parked car in the area of 300 12th Avenue. Lesane stopped at the rear of a vehicle, crouched down, and picked up a rifle from the area behind the car.
Lesane then walks to the front of a residence on the same block to stash the weapon under a stairway at the front of that residence, police said.
Jenkins’s observations were relayed to units on the street.
Police officer Tyseme Holmes seized the loaded American Tactical AR-15 Assault Rifle and other officers searched for the suspect.
A suspect matching the description was standing in front of a store on 12th Avenue. He was immediately arrested by police officers Gabriel Spallacci and Sterluis Castillo.
The recovered firearm will be submitted to the New Jersey State Police Ballistics Laboratory for further examination, Speziale said.
“The timely efforts and ability to utilize all the tools in their toolbox by those involved was outstanding and removed a dangerous individual and weapon from our streets,” Speziale said.