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Jersey City officer shot, killed on robbery call

This photo provided by the Jersey City Mayor's office shows Officer Melvin Santiago. Santiago was shot in the head while still in his police vehicle as he and his partner responded to an armed robbery call at a Walgreens Pharmacy at about 4.a.m., Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop said in a statement. Fulop says Santiago was pronounced dead at Jersey City Medical Center. No other details about the officer were immediately released. Fulop said officers responding to the robbery call shot and killed the man who shot Santiago. He was not immediately identified. (AP Photo/Jersey City Mayor's office)
This photo provided by the Jersey City Mayor's office shows Officer Melvin Santiago. Santiago was shot in the head while still in his police vehicle as he and his partner responded to an armed robbery call at a Walgreens Pharmacy at about 4.a.m., Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop said in a statement. Fulop says Santiago was pronounced dead at Jersey City Medical Center. No other details about the officer were immediately released. Fulop said officers responding to the robbery call shot and killed the man who shot Santiago. He was not immediately identified. (AP Photo/Jersey City Mayor's office) This photo provided by the Jersey City Mayor's office shows Officer Melvin Santiago. Santiago was shot in the head while still in his police vehicle as he and his partner responded to an armed robbery call at a Walgreens Pharmacy at about 4.a.m., Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop said in a statement. Fulop says Santiago was pronounced dead at Jersey City Medical Center. No other details about the officer were immediately released. Fulop said officers responding to the robbery call shot and killed the man who shot Santiago. He was not immediately identified. (AP Photo/Jersey City Mayor's office)

By Associated Press 3 min read

JERSEY CITY, N.J. (AP) – A Jersey City police officer responding to an armed robbery call at a 24-hour drug store was shot and killed early Sunday, officials said.

Officer Melvin Santiago was shot in the head while still in his police vehicle as he and his partner responded to a call at a Walgreens Pharmacy at about 4.a.m., Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop said in a statement.

Fulop says Santiago was pronounced dead at Jersey City Medical Center. No other details about the officer were immediately released.

“Today was a horrible day for Jersey City,” Fulop said.

Santiago is the first Jersey City officer killed in the line of duty since Detective Marc DiNardo was killed in July 2009 during a raid on an apartment searching for suspects in a robbery.