Police have identified the man that led police on a four town chase at the Jersey Shore that ended with a deadly shootout in the heart of Atlantic City's shopping district.
Antoquan T. Watson, 27, of Williamstown, New Jersey was killed following a pursuit that began along Route 40 in Plesantville, N.J. and made its way through Egg Harbor Township, N.J., Ventnor, N.J. before ending in a hail of bullets near The Walk outdoor outlet mall in downtown Atlantic City, N.J. around 1 p.m. on Thursday.
Pleasantville Police received a call about an armed man at La Escondida, a local restaurant located along the Black Horse Pike. After officers responded, Watson fled in a black SUV, starting the pursuit, according to officials.
During the chase, police say the suspect fired on officers from the window the SUV. Police eventually caught up with him outside the Eddie Bauer store at Atlantic Avenue and Christopher Columbus Boulevard in Atlantic City. That's where the Atlantic City Expressway ends in the center of the city.
After crashing the SUV into bushes outside the store, police say Watson got out of the vehicle and began exchanging gunfire with officers. At least two Pleasantville Police cars were hit as well as several windows in the area, sources say.
Watson was pronounced dead on the scene. His body was removed from the street hours after the deadly pursuit ended.
"I don't think when they woke up this morning to go to work they thought their lives would be in jeopardy, but indeed that's what the job calls for and today was one of those days," Atlantic City mayor Don Guardian told NBC10's Cydney Long.
No officers were hurt.
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