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

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

Westfield Police Lt. Edward Maguire said Denzel Wright started his crime spree in the early hours of Tuesday morning by robbing a Roselle gas station. Following the robbery, the 19-year-old Newark native reportedly crossed the street, where police say he tried and failed to rob a second gas station. Wright reportedly used a Mac 10 machine gun with a high capacity magazine in both incidents.

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

After evading Roselle police, Maguire said Roselle Park police chased Wright until he evaded them by heading into Kenilworth. Chased by Kenilworth police, Wright headed towards Westfield evading the police in Kenilworth. Cranford police did not spot him by during his brief time in the township.

Westfield officers Katka and Martinez eyed him while he was on Springfield Avenue. He then proceeded to flee eastbound on Route 22 in Springfield, while being chased by Westfield police.

During the chase on Route 22, Wright allegedly weaved in and out of parking lots to evade police. After re-entering 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 of which he is accused. The charges include two counts of first degree armed robbery, one count of first degree carjacking, one count of unlawful possession 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, Roselle took the lead in the investigation as the most serious crimes occurring there.

Editor's note: In the original version of this story, the Burger King was identified as being in Springfield. The Burger King is in on Rte. 22 in Union. We regret the error.