Officer convicted of reckless manslaughter in 2016 shooting

A jury convicted a Newark police officer of reckless manslaughter in a 2016 off-duty shooting.
Officer Joseph Macchia was convicted in connection with the deadly shooting of Michael Gaffney outside Paddy’s Place bar in Union Township on May 13, 2016.
Officials say that Macchia and Gaffney got into a physical fight outside the bar. They were separated from each other, but re-engaged in a second fight a few minutes later. It was during the second fight that Macchia fired his service weapon several times, fatally shooting Gaffney, according to the Union County prosecutor.
Macchia was suspended from the Newark Police Department without pay.
The jury deliberated for about a week following the conclusion of the trial, according to officials.