Suspect who allegedly killed ex-girlfiend and their child shot on Clay Street Thursday night
HACKENSACK -- The Bergen County Prosecutor's Office said police shot a suspect in a Hudson County double-murder Thursday night.
The shooting occurred at a duplex on Clay Street. The condition of the suspect was not immediately known.
Jose Ronald Santos Alvarez (File photo) The suspect was identified as Jose Ronald Santos-Alvarez, 26, who was being sought for the murder of his former girlfriend Monika Potoczniak and their son Christopher, 4.
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Santos-Alvarez was shot and wounded after lunging at a law enforcement officer with a knife, authorities said. Michael Mordaga, the director of the Hackensack Police Department, confirmed it was a Hackensack officer who fired but declined to release any information about him. The officer was physically unhurt but was at Hackensack University Medical Center for observation.
Later Thursday, during a press conference at the scene, Prosecutor John Molinelli said several officers, including Hackensack police and Hudson County Prosecutor's Office investigators, converged on the duplex where the suspect was holed up.
Two women admitted officers into the home but tried to mislead officers about the presence of the suspect, Molinelli also said. Police were forced to break down a rear bedroom door when Santos Alvarez lunged with the knife, prompting police to fire once, Molinelli said. Santos Alvarez, who was shot in the abdomen, was in surgery Thursday night at Hackensack University Medical Center.
Mordaga said the women at the home have been charged with hindering apprehension. He did not immediately release information about them Thursday.
Molinelli referred questions on the double-homicide to the Hudson County Prosecutor's Office. Hudson County did not immediately respond to emails Thursday night.
The investigation into the shooting will be handled by the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office, Molinelli also said. Thursday's incident was the third officer-involved shooting in Hackensack in the last several months.
Potoczniak, 27, and her son were found unconscious in their second-floor Jersey City apartment Oct. 7 and were later pronounced dead. Subsequent investigation revealed that Monika Potoczniak had been strangled and that the boy had been smothered. The Hudson County Prosecutor's Office issued a warrant for Santos-Alvarez Saturday.
Paul Milo may be reached at pmilo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @PaulMilo2. FindNJ.com on Facebook
