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Police fatally shoot man at public library in New Jersey Police fatally shoot man at public library in New Jersey
(about 2 hours later)
Police in northern New Jersey shot a man dead in a public library on Friday, after an apparent altercation with officers.Police in northern New Jersey shot a man dead in a public library on Friday, after an apparent altercation with officers.
At a late-night press conference, Lyndhurst police chief James O’Connor identified the man as Kevin Allen. O’Connor said Allen was wanted for violating probation terms of a work-release program, and that an officer recognized him as he entered the Lyndhurst public library at about 1.30pm.At a late-night press conference, Lyndhurst police chief James O’Connor identified the man as Kevin Allen. O’Connor said Allen was wanted for violating probation terms of a work-release program, and that an officer recognized him as he entered the Lyndhurst public library at about 1.30pm.
A few minutes later, the officer confronted Allen, 36, on the third floor of the building, where Allen resisted arrest by struggling with the police officer, O’Connor said. Allen then pulled a knife when a second officer arrived and “charged” at the pair. A few minutes later, police said the officer confronted Allen, 36, on the third floor of the building, where Allen is said to have resisted arrest by struggling with the police officer, O’Connor said. Police said Allen then pulled a knife when a second officer arrived and “charged” at the pair.
“He brandished the knife,” O’Connor told reporters, after the officers had “just prior” tried to use pepper spray and their batons. “Mr Allen still went after them aggressively and left them no choice but to deploy deadly force.”“He brandished the knife,” O’Connor told reporters, after the officers had “just prior” tried to use pepper spray and their batons. “Mr Allen still went after them aggressively and left them no choice but to deploy deadly force.”
“There was nothing else they could have done,” he said.“There was nothing else they could have done,” he said.
People at the library fled, and administrators later closed the building as more police arrived to investigate. Allen was taken to a hospital and pronounced dead at about 3.30pm. The officers involved sustained no physical injuries but also went to the hospital to be treated for shock, police said. People at the library fled, according to the officers, and administrators later closed the building as more police arrived to investigate. Allen was taken to a hospital and pronounced dead at about 3.30pm. The officers involved sustained no physical injuries but also went to the hospital to be treated for shock, police said.
O’Connor would not comment on whether gunfire from the officers could have endangered bystanders, saying only: “We’ll review what occurred here today, and review what steps we can take in the future to hopefully prevent that from occurring again.”O’Connor would not comment on whether gunfire from the officers could have endangered bystanders, saying only: “We’ll review what occurred here today, and review what steps we can take in the future to hopefully prevent that from occurring again.”
Police have said they are interviewing a number of witnesses, including a child. They did not disclose any names or ages.Police have said they are interviewing a number of witnesses, including a child. They did not disclose any names or ages.
The library is directly adjacent to the Lyndhurst police station.The library is directly adjacent to the Lyndhurst police station.
Lyndhurst Public Library, normally open on Saturdays, had a sign hanging in its window that it would be closed for the weekend.
Allen had a record of arrests that spanned more than a decade, and court records showed charges for offenses including arrears, drug distribution and criminal sexual conduct. He was wanted on arrest warrants for contempt of court and failing to appear for his work-release program. He sometimes went by the alias Kevin Hall, Bergen County prosecutor John Molinelli said.Allen had a record of arrests that spanned more than a decade, and court records showed charges for offenses including arrears, drug distribution and criminal sexual conduct. He was wanted on arrest warrants for contempt of court and failing to appear for his work-release program. He sometimes went by the alias Kevin Hall, Bergen County prosecutor John Molinelli said.
Former neighbors expressed surprise at his death.Former neighbors expressed surprise at his death.
“I don’t know anyone that would say anything bad about him,” William McMann told ABC7. “It’s just really shocking to hear what happened. I just can’t put it together.”“I don’t know anyone that would say anything bad about him,” William McMann told ABC7. “It’s just really shocking to hear what happened. I just can’t put it together.”
Others said they were rattled by the violence. A local mother, Daisy Pabon, told CBS2 she would not take her child back to the library.Others said they were rattled by the violence. A local mother, Daisy Pabon, told CBS2 she would not take her child back to the library.
“I’m very scared of going there,” she said. “I don’t know what can happen next time.”“I’m very scared of going there,” she said. “I don’t know what can happen next time.”
A high school nearby was briefly locked down when administrators heard reports of the shooting.A high school nearby was briefly locked down when administrators heard reports of the shooting.
An occupant at Allen’s listed address told the ABC affiliate police had come to the house a few days earlier in search of Allen, who had left no forwarding address.An occupant at Allen’s listed address told the ABC affiliate police had come to the house a few days earlier in search of Allen, who had left no forwarding address.
“I knew it wasn’t anything good. But it shocked me it was the same guy they were looking for in the library who ended up getting killed,” the person said, speaking on condition of anonymity.“I knew it wasn’t anything good. But it shocked me it was the same guy they were looking for in the library who ended up getting killed,” the person said, speaking on condition of anonymity.