Crime & Safety

Panic at the Drive Thru: Machine Gun Toting Carjacker Arrested After Burger King Crash

Westfield police arrest suspect after car chase goes from Roselle to Springfield.

Westfield police arrested a machine gun carrying armed robber/carjacker early Friday morning following a multi-town car chase which ended with a crash in front of a Route 22 Burger King in Springfield.

Denzel Wright, 19, of Newark is alleged to have started his crime spree in the early hours of Friday morning with the robbery of a gas station in Roselle, according to Westfield Police Lt. Edward Maguire. Following the first robbery, Wright proceeded across the street with the intent to rob a second gas station, which failed. Wright used a Mac 10 machine gun with a high capacity magazine in both robberies.

Maguire said following the second robbery, Maguire said Wright proceeded to carjack the driver of a 2004 silver Dodge at gunpoint and fled the scene, leading to a car chase through six Union County communities.

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After evading Roselle police, Maguire said Wright was picked up by Roselle Park police, whom he managed to evade, heading into Kenilworth. Chased by Kenilworth police, Wright headed towards Westfield evading the police in Kenilworth. He was not spotted by Cranford police during his brief time in the township.

After being spotted by Westfield officers Katka and Martinez along Springfield Avenue, Wright continued to give chase and ignored attempts by the police to stop him. He then proceeded to flee east bound on Route 22 in Springfield, while being chased by Westfield.

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During the chase on Route 22, Wright is alleged to having attempted to evade Westfield police by driving in and out of the parking lots along the highway. After reentering Route 22, Wright stopped after crashing in front of the Burger King. Union Township police assisted Westfield officers during the Route 22 portion of the chase.

While the loaded machine gun was found on the seat next to Wright at the time of his arrest, Maguire said no shots were fired by Wright or police during the incident.

"Unbelivably no," Maguire said. "It's incredible that no shots were fired."

Wright has been hit with a slew of charges related to the multiple crimes he is alleged to have committed. The charges include two counts of first degree armed robbery, one count of first degree carjacking, one count of unlawful posession of a machine gun, one count of unlawful possession of a high capacity magazine, one count of unlawful possession of a weapon, one count of possession of a weapon for unlawful purposes, four counts of second degree alluding, one count of third degree criminal mischief related to crashing the car and numerous motor vehicle violations.

Wright's bail in Westfield has been set at $75,000, Maguire said he was unsure of the bail for other communities. Wright has been transported to Roselle where he is undergoing questioning. Maguire said after consultation with the county prosecutor's office, the decision was made to allow Roselle to take the lead in the investigation due to the most serious crimes occurring in Roselle.

Editor's Note: Springfield Patch Editor Adam Bulger contributed to this report.

 


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