The officers pulled into the Springfield Avenue gas station to find two men engaged in a heated verbal argument at 8:55 p.m., authorities said.
A man later identified as Newark's Laquan Walker pulled his gun -- prompting the officers to do the same and order him to the ground, police said.
The 36-year-old felon was arrested and charged with unlawful weapon possession and certain persons prohibited from weapon possession.
Walker has prior convictions of weapons offenses, eluding police and aggravated manslaughter, records show.
In 2000, he was sentenced to more than 14 years in prison for the aggravated manslaughter conviction. He later returned to state prison for another three years before being released in May 2018, state records show.
Click here to follow Daily Voice North Hunterdon and receive free news updates.