Cops Shoot Wayne Man Holding Mother at Knifepoint, Authorities Say

Wayne Police shot a 37-year-old Wayne man Friday night after responding to a Redwood Avenue home to find him holding his 60-year-old mother at knifepoint, Wayne Detective Captain Mark McGrath said Saturday.

According to McGrath, when police responded to a 911 call reporting the man "off his medication and in need of medical assistance" at about 11:10 p.m. Friday, they found the man in the home's doorway holding a large butcher knife and the woman in a chokehold.

Wayne police officers began hostage negotiations with the man that lasted about three hours, during which he became, "more and more aggressive," McGrath said. Cops said the woman was in "imminent danger."

At 1:57 a.m. Saturday, a Wayne Police officer shot the man, causing him to drop the knife and let go of his mother, McGrath said. Police rescued the woman and took the man into custody after a "brief but intense struggle," McGrath said.

"Acting Chief James Clarke and the entire Wayne Police Department are extremely proud of the performance of our officers at the scene that resulted in the safe release of the hostage with no loss of life," McGrath said.

NJ.com identified the man as Francisco Pacheco, and said he was charged with aggravated assault, criminal restraint, weapons possession, and resisting arrest. Both Pacheco and his mother were taken to the hospital and are in stable condition, the report said.

The Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office will lead an investigation into the shooting, McGrath said.