An off-duty female firefighter was shot while driving in her own car in Irvington, New Jersey Wednesday. Was she the target, or was she caught in a crossfire? Eyewitness News reporter Jeff Pegues is at University Hospital in Newark with exclusive details.
The injured off-duty firefighter was brought here. Talk about someone fortunate to survive that shooting. That bullet stopped just short of causing some serious damage.
Tonight, we have an exclusive interview with firefighters who helped one of their own.
The off-duty firefighter was driving down Springfield Avenue in Irvington when she was shot. With a bullet lodged in her shoulder, she was able to drive to a firehouse for help.
Firefighters told us what she told them about the shooting.
Derek Hunter, Firefighter: "She heard, 'boom, boom, boom,' and she said she felt like something hit her, like a brick."
She'd been shot, after being caught in crossfire on Ellis and Springfield Avenues.
Battalion Chief Kevin Killeen, Newark Fire Dept.: "The police believe this might have been a ricochet bullet."
That ricochet nearly cost her her life.
Fellow firefighters from Engine 18 put her in a chair inside their firehouse, treating her injury until an ambulance could bring her to University Hospital for treatment.
Firefighter: "She was alert, she started getting nervous.. so we calmed her down, put gauzes on, put pressure on it to stop her from bleeding."
Hunter: "It hit her and it penetrated her, but something stopped it from going in. It was the grace of God."
She was fortunate, indeed. We are told she was on her way to church when the shooting happened.
The injured, off-duty firefighter has been identified as Captain Jacqueline Jones, a 20-year veteran of the Newark fire department.
She is expected to be treated and released. As for suspects in the shooting, the search continues at this hour.
