New York City police officer arrested in road rage-related shooting in New Jersey, authorities say

VOORHEES TOWNSHIP, NJ — A New York City police officer was charged with attempted murder Friday after authorities said he shot another driver during a road rage incident in New Jersey, then fled the scene.

Officer Hieu Tran, assigned to the New York Police Department's Press Bureau Social Media Unit, was awaiting extradition to Camden County, New Jersey, where the shooting took place late May 17.

Officers with the Voorhees Township Police Department were on the scene of a multi-car crash on Route 73 when they observed that one of the drivers involved in the crash had been shot prior to the crash, the Camden County Prosecutor's Office said in a statement.

The shooting victim was taken to the hospital and remained hospitalized Friday, authorities said.

Detectives used surveillance video, cellphone records and ballistics evidence to identify Tran as the shooter, the prosecutor's office said.

Ballistics evidence showed Tran shot the victim with his New York police-issued gun, prosecutors said.

The prosecutor's office called what happened “an apparent road rage incident” but provided no details about what might have led to the shooting. He said the investigation was ongoing.

Tran was arrested Thursday at New York Police headquarters and appeared at an extradition hearing in Manhattan on Friday.

The Daily News reported that Tran remained head down for much of his court appearance.

Tran, who was also charged with aggravated assault and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, waived extradition. Assistant District Attorney Todd Fitch said Tran will be taken to Camden County later Friday.

The attorney who represented Tran at the hearing said he had no comment on the charges.

The NYPD said Tran was suspended without pay.