Camden officer shoots suspect, 22, over threat

A 22-year-old Camden man was shot by a police officer early yesterday after the officer found the man threatening to hit a woman with a concrete block.

Leonidas Corchada was in critical but stable condition yesterday at Cooper University Hospital. He was shot twice in the chest and underwent surgery, police said.

Officers went to the 800 block of Elm Street shortly after 1 a.m., when a fight was reported. They found Corchada threatening the woman, according to the Camden County Prosecutor's Office. When an officer ordered Corchada to drop the block, he raised it over his head and further threatened the woman, authorities said, and the officer fired because he feared for the woman's safety.

Corchada is charged with aggravated assault and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose. He is under police guard at the hospital.

The officer, whose name has not been released, is a seven-year department veteran, according to the Prosecutor's Office. He was taken to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital for observation and released.

Under procedure for police-related shootings, the officer was placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.