Police: Off-duty NJ cop shot man trying to steal his truck

EDGEWATER PARK, N.J. (WPVI) -- An off-duty Delanco police officer shot a man in Edgewater Park, Burlington County early Tuesday morning.

It happened at 4 a.m. in the 200 block of Stevenson Avenue.

The Burlington County Prosecutor's Office said Officer Basil Warren ended his shift at 3 a.m. and went to a property he recently purchased.

He was driving his personal vehicle, investigators said, but was still in uniform.

Warren parked his truck in the driveway, apparently leaving the door unlocked and the engine running, and went inside the home.

Officer Warren says he heard the truck door close, and came back out of the house and found a man, identified as 26-year-old Tysean Fitzpatrick of Willingboro, in the driver's seat of the truck.

The prosecutor's office said Warren ordered Fitzpatrick out of the vehicle.

The prosecutor said it is unclear what happened next. However, sources in the FOP say Warren told them he gave chase and Fitzpatrick accelerated toward him.

Neighbor William Council tells us, "I heard two shots, and I heard, 'Get out of the car. Get out of the car. Get on the ground.'"

Warren opened fire, hitting Fitzpatrick at least twice, investigators say. Other officers arrived on the scene to find Warren giving first aid to Fitzpatrick.

"The guy was laying on the ground. And the officer was asking him why he did it," Council said.

"The kid, or whoever it was, was fading out, and he went down there and grabbed a hold of him and kept saying, 'Stay with me, John. Stay with me.' And he kept nursing the kid... like he was family. I couldn't believe it. I mean, he was so concerned."

The suspect was rushed to the hospital and was reported to be in critical condition.

Investigators say they have not yet talked to Fitzpatrick.

So far, no charges have been filed.