ELIZABETH – Angel Padilla feels blessed to be alive.

Perhaps even more so knowing the man who shot him in the vestibule of a Linden tavern more than three years ago, before engaging in a gun battle with four other Linden police officers, likely will spend the rest of his life in prison. Padilla's bullet-proof vest prevented him from being seriously injured.

Ahmad Khan Rahami, 31, of Elizabeth, already serving a federal life prison sentence for the 2016 bombing in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan, was sentenced Friday to life in prison on state charges for the attempted murder of the five Linden officers.

Rahami showed no reaction upon hearing the sentence handed down by Superior Court Judge John M. Deitch. He declined to address the court during his sentencing.

"This is the only just sentence," Deitch said, adding Rahami would have to serve 63 years and nine months before becoming eligible for parole. Deitch said Rahami has not shown "one iota of remorse for his actions."

The sentence will run consecutive to his federal sentence, Deitch said.

'How blessed we all are'

"I'm grateful to friends of mine like Roy Diaz (a retired Union County Prosecutor's Office detective lieutenant) and Frank Leporino (a retired Linden police detective), Chief (Jonathan) Parham, who was the chief at the time, and the guys who came to me and rendered aid and came in as my backup," Padilla said after the sentencing. "We're blessed. We're blessed to still be here."

Padilla said his life hasn't been easy since the shooting, which garnered national attention for him and the Linden Police Department. Rahami had been sought by local, state and federal authorities in connection with two bombings – the other in Seaside Park – when Padilla encountered him.

"I never thought that I would come in front of the person everyone was looking for," said Padilla, who took his time approaching Rahami in the vestibule, waiting for backup to show up. "But never in a million years did I expect it would have ended in the way it did.

"It's tough. It hasn't been easy, but every day is just about thinking how blessed we all are to be here today after what happened," Padilla said, adding he has received support throughout the process, especially from Diaz who has been there for him and his family. "I can't thank him enough."

"We're not the only victims here, our families, our friends, I have kids that are cops, I have a brother that is a police officer, also. I feel they were victims just as well. But thank God that we have all come together, and with the support of everyone, we are able to get through today."

Padilla also thanked outside agencies and the Union County Prosecutor's Office.

"I'm just blessed," he said.

Padilla said he wanted to send a message to all first responders – police, firefighters, EMS workers and dispatchers – that help is available for those struggling.

"If you are going through something, if you are struggling, please reach out for help and that support. We're here. There is somebody here that is willing to hear you out and help you through the process," he said.

"If you are in a dark place and struggling, reach out to somebody. The last thing you want to do is try to go through it alone, because it's impossible. It's hard, because we're not used to as cops asking for help. We usually give help. But reach out. Don't be afraid to ask for help. That's what got me through, asking for help," he said.

Padilla was joined in court by Linden Police Chief David Hart, Parham, Lt. Christopher Guenther and Linden officers Pete Hammer and David Guzman, who both were involved in the gun battle with Rahami, which left Hammer injured.

Hart said he was pleased with the sentencing.

"The end of a long nightmare is over. We have justice for Linden officers," said Hart, who thanked the Linden officers, the Union County Prosecutor's Office, the FBI and other agencies that helped the department. "It's been a long haul, but we can finally bring closure to a real nightmare that hit our police department three years ago."

Detective Lt. Timothy Hubert, president of Linden PBA Local 42, who also attended the sentencing, said he, too, feels justice was served.

'Could have been much, much worse'

Rahami in October was convicted of 30 counts including attempted murder, multiple counts of aggravated assault, two weapons offenses and possession of a high-capacity magazine. The verdict was reached after a three-week trial and jury deliberations over two days. Rahami received a range of lesser sentences for the aggravated assault and weapons charges.

EARLIER:Ahmad Rahami convicted of attempted murder of Linden cops

On Sept. 19, 2016, Rahami, who was wanted for the Chelsea bombing and the bombing of the Marine Corps Semper Five charity race in Seaside Park, was found sleeping in the doorway of Merdie's Tavern.

After police were alerted, a daytime gun battle ensued along East Elizabeth Avenue after Padilla began talking with Rahami.

"It is clear Angel Padilla was not attempting to escalate anything on that day. In fact, he was trying to deescalate matters and order the defendant to cooperate and wait for backup to arrive," Union County Assistant Prosecutor Milton Leibowitz said at the sentencing. "Instead of complying, the defendant shot officer Padilla at point-blank range. And despite this, officer Padilla heroically attempted to apprehend the defendant. And his fellow officers, some of whom are here today, they came on his behalf to assist despite knowing the defendant was armed and actively firing and put themselves in danger."

He said Rahami disregarded safety in discharging his weapon numerous times in public as cars were driving down the street and residents were in the area.

"This could have been much, much worse but for pure luck we're here today with no fatalities," said Leibowitz, who asked for the life sentence to run consecutively to the federal sentence.

The gun battle ended after Rahami, an Afghan native who also goes by the last name Rahimi, was shot multiple times in the arm and leg outside a Linden auto repair shop on Elizabeth Avenue. He was apprehended by police and transported to a local hospital for treatment.

Rahami’s gun was recovered at the scene.

Caught on camera

Much of the gun battle was captured on police body camera, car and surveillance video.

During the gun battle, Padilla was struck in the right side of his bullet-proof vest but was not seriously injured. Another bullet broke the window on investigator Pete Hammer's police vehicle, grazing him in the head. Linden officers Mark Kahana, David Guzman and Daniel Diaz also were involved in the shooting.

Rahami's capture garnered national recognition for the Linden Police Department.

Padilla and Kahana have retired from the department. All five officers testified at the trial.

During the trial, prosecutor's described Rahami as a man with a plan who had a 9mm handgun and notebook in his possession with words about detonating bombs and shooting police. Rahami was found to have 40 rounds of ammunition strapped to his body and fired 20 shots within an area of a block and a half.

Besides Leibowitz, the state also was represented by Union County Assistant Prosecutors Meghan Tomlinson and Albert J. Cernades Jr.

Nicolas Korman, Rahami's attorney, argued his client was trying to get away, and not kill the police officers.

"The defendant's actions were shocking and carried out with a callous disregard for human life," Deitch said at the sentencing.

Rahami previously was convicted of eight federal charges, including using a weapon of mass destruction, attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction, bombing a place of public use, destroying property by means of fire or explosive, and other charges for the Sept. 17, 2016, bombing in Chelsea in which more than 30 people were injured and hundreds of thousands of dollars in property damage was caused across a 650-foot crime scene. He was sentenced to live in prison without the chance of parole.

Rahami still faces federal charges in the Sept. 17, 2016, bombing in Seaside Park, and for the additional explosives found Sept. 18, 2016, in a backpack near the entrance to the NJ Transit train station in Elizabeth.

Email: srussell@gannettnj.com

Suzanne Russell is a breaking news reporter for MyCentralJersey.com covering crime, courts and other mayhem. To get unlimited access, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.