Federal officer wounded in Newark shooting

An off-duty federal agent was shot in front of his home in Newark early Tuesday, police said.

At 5:53 a.m. police received a report of five shots heard in the area of Bettencourt Street and Mayhews Landing Road.

The suspect, described as a tall man with a pronounced limp, was seen getting into a white sedan and driving away after the shooting, police said.

Police responded to the neighborhood, where they found the federal agent suffering from at least one gunshot wound. He was transported to Eden Medical Center for treatment.

Police said the investigation is ongoing, but that it appears the federal agent had a confrontation with the suspect. Investigators have not yet determined whether the agent also fired a weapon.

Newark police detectives are working with federal and local authorities to follow up on leads, police said.

Police have not released the name of the agent or his organization.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to call Detective Sgt. Mike Carroll at (510) 578-4247, or the anonymous "silent witness" hotline at (510) 578-4000 ext. 500.