PATERSON — An off-duty Paterson police officer returned fire after being shot at by a man outside a city bar on Wednesday morning, according to a report on NorthJersey.com.

Elijah Morales, 28, allegedly used a semi-automatic .22 caliber handgun to open fire during a fight outside the Main Street Lounge around 5:15 a.m. New Year's Day, the report said.

The officer, who was not injured, then shot at Morales three times.

Police said Morales was injured. St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center cited privacy laws in declining to give out information about Morales' condition.

The Passaic County Prosecutor's Office refused to identify the officer, who was in uniform, even though he was off duty. The officer had stopped to help disperse a crowd when the shooting occurred.

Last month, there were two shootings in or near other chicken restaurants in Paterson.

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