NUTLEY – As police officers know, even a routine traffic stop can turn lethal. And
lethal is what nearly happened Friday night on Route 21 in Nutley.
Authorities said that, at about 10 p.m., Nutley P.O. William Paro attempted to pull over a southbound car on the highway after a computer check indicated the driver, Jerry Shanks, 37, of Elizabeth, had outstanding motor vehicle violations.
Instead of stopping, authorities said, Shanks spun his car around, facing it into the
oncoming traffic, and then fired at least two shots at Paro from a .40-caliber handgun. The officer was not hit.
Shanks fled the scene but was tracked to an address in Passaic and arrested several hours later.
He has been charged with attempted murder and was being held on $1 million bail.
– Karen Zautyk
