Two men charged in the shooting of an Atlantic City police officer who was wounded when he responded to a robbery in progress at a casino garage were arraigned Tuesday.
A judge maintained bail at $750,000 each for Martell Chisholm, of Millville, and Demetrius Cross, of Bridgeton. Neither man entered a plea at the hearing.
The two men were arrested Saturday in connection with the shooting of 29-year-old Joshlee Vadell.
Atlantic City prosecutors say Vadell, a nine-year veteran of the police force, and another officer saw the robbery being committed early Saturday.
Vadell was shot as he exited his vehicle. But the second officer returned fire and struck a robbery suspect, Jerome Damon, who later was found dead a short distance away. Damon, 25, was from Camden.
Vadell's condition was upgraded Monday from critical to stable.
He underwent surgery after the early Saturday shooting. Police initially said he suffered a bullet to the head.
The second officer's name hasn't been released.
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Vadell's wife, Laura Vadell, and his family issued a statement thanking "everyone who played a role in helping us through this extremely difficult time," including her husband's colleagues and the doctors, nurses and other staffers at the hospital where he's being treated.
The statement also cites the efforts of the officer who was with Vadell when the shooting occurred.
"Without him, Josh may not have made it and those responsible may never have been brought to justice," it said.
