New Jersey

Camden Police Officer Who Was Shot in Leg Released From Hospital

The shooting occurred after the first-year officer approached three men he believed were suspicious, investigators have said.

Camden police Officer Patrick O'Hanlon, the rookie cop shot in the leg Wednesday night, was released from the hospital Saturday. Dozens of Camden County officers saluted as Officer O'Hanlon was wheeled out of Cooper University Hospital.

A 76ers fan, O'Hanlon, 21, chose to wear his Joel Embiid jersey as he left the hospital and entered a police escort. He had the jersey on as his fellow police officers stood with him outside his home Saturday.

"He's coming home with us," said O'Hanlon's father. "He'll get well and he'll be back."

O'Hanlon was shot during a confrontation with a suspect after chasing him down, officials allege.

That suspect, Delronn Mahan, 19, of Lindenwold, was charged Thursday with attempted murder, aggravated assault and related offenses, Camden County Prosecutor Mary Eva Colalillo said.

The shooting occurred shortly after 10 p.m. Wednesday around 8th Street and Chelton Avenue in Camden. 

The first-year officer approached three men he believed were suspicious, investigators said.

As O'Hanlon walked toward them, one of the men began to flee. After O'Hanlon caught up to him, the man allegedly pulled out a gun and the two men began to struggle over the weapon. Mahan then allegedly opened fire at close range, shooting O'Hanlon in the leg, police said.

"It appears that the suspect tried to shoot the officer a second time in the face, but the gun did not go off," Camden County Police Chief Scott Thomson said.

Chief Thomson said the gun jammed when the gunman tried to fire a second time, likely saving Officer O'Hanlon's life.

Other responding officers took the suspect into custody and tended to the wounded officer.

"The officers who immediately responded to the scene immediately applied a tourniquet to the wounded officer's leg," Thomson said.

O'Hanlon, who is also an Army reservist, was taken to Cooper University Hospital where he was treated for non-life-threatening injuries. Thomson said the bullet went through O'Hanlon's upper right thigh. He praised the officers who rushed O'Hanlon to the hospital.

"They saved the life of their brother officer and got him to the hospital and he's gonna be fine," Thomson said.

The officer remained in a lot of pain Thursday, his parents at his side, Thomson said. O'Hanlon was able to give a thumbs up from his hospital as seen in a tweet from police.

Camden Officer OHanlon and scene

Since the shooting, O'Hanlon has received an outpouring of support. Among those supporters is Congressman Donald Norcross who visited him at the hospital.

Patrick O'Hanlan Camden
Camden County
Police Officer Patrick O'Hanlan, 21, with U.S. Rep. Donald Norcross.

Mahan was not injured during the incident. Police say O'Hanlon didn't fire his weapon during the struggle.

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