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Jersey City Shooting Live Updates: 6 People Killed, Including Officer Jersey City Shooting Live Updates: 6 Killed, Including an Officer
(32 minutes later)
Six people, including one police officer, were killed in Jersey City, N.J., on Tuesday in a series of gunfights that brought destruction to a kosher market and made a residential area feel like a war zone.Six people, including one police officer, were killed in Jersey City, N.J., on Tuesday in a series of gunfights that brought destruction to a kosher market and made a residential area feel like a war zone.
Officials said the dead included three people in the market as well as two suspected shooters. The slain police officer, Detective Joe Seals, was a longtime veteran with the Jersey City Police Department, according to Chief Mike Kelly. The dead included three people in the market as well as two suspected shooters, officials said. The slain police officer, Detective Joseph Seals, was a longtime veteran with the Jersey City Police Department, according to Chief Mike Kelly.
There was “no indication of terrorism,” an official said at a news conference. Officials believe the shooting began when the detective approached one of the gunmen in connection with a homicide investigation and was shot dead, according to a person with knowledge of the matter.
Officials believe the detective was killed while trying to intercept the two suspects at a nearby cemetery.
The gunmen then fled in a truck and eventually ended up at the kosher supermarket, where they opened fire on police officers and civilians, officials said. Investigators believe that the store was chosen randomly and that the incident was not a hate crime.The gunmen then fled in a truck and eventually ended up at the kosher supermarket, where they opened fire on police officers and civilians, officials said. Investigators believe that the store was chosen randomly and that the incident was not a hate crime.
For more than an hour, loud exchanges of gunfire rang out in the Greenville neighborhood of Jersey City, which is just across the Hudson River from Lower Manhattan. Helicopters circled overhead as police officers swarmed the streets. There was “no indication of terrorism,” an official said at a news conference.
They aimed handguns and long guns in every direction as they traveled down the street in formations, knocking on doors and ushering residents and business owners to safety. For more than an hour, loud exchanges of gunfire rang out in the Greenville neighborhood of Jersey City, which is just across the Hudson River from Lower Manhattan.
The shooting started around 12:30 p.m., according to officials. Helicopters circled overhead as police officers swarmed the streets. They aimed handguns and long guns in every direction as they traveled down the street in formations, knocking on doors and ushering residents and business owners to safety.
Jersey City’s mayor, Steven Fulop, said there were two separate incidents involved in the shootout. The first was at Bay View Cemetery, and the second took place at the kosher market near the intersection of Martin Luther King Drive and Bayview Avenue. Officials received calls about a shooting at the market at around 12:30 p.m., according to Chief Kelly, who added that the officers who responded were met with “high-powered rifle fire.”
Gov. Philip D. Murphy said in a statement: “Our thoughts and prayers are with the men and women of the Jersey City Police Department, especially with the officers shot during this standoff, and with the residents and schoolchildren currently under lockdown.” Around the same time, the police learned that Detective Seals had been shot at Bay View Cemetery, roughly a mile away.
More than a dozen, somber police officers stood guard outside Jersey City Medical Center. At one point, three plainclothes officers hugged a woman who was sobbing as she stood amid the glow of red and blue police lights. Two officers were hit in the gun battle, one in the shoulder and other in the body, Chief Kelly said. Both of them had been released from the hospital by Tuesday night.
At around 5 p.m., dozens of officers saluted outside the emergency room as a body covered in a white sheet was carried to a hearse and a small group of Hasidic Jews followed behind. Officers were also investigating a stolen U-Haul vehicle that they believed was connected to the shooters, Chief Kelly said. Bomb squads were examining the vehicle.
Sacred Heart School, a Catholic elementary school across the street from the scene of the shooting, was placed on lockdown during the attack, a spokeswoman said. The students there had not been harmed. The shootout and police siege plunged the Greenville neighborhood of gentrifying Jersey City, — a residential area with a diverse population, including a budding community of ultra-Orthodox Jews — into chaos, fear and confusion.
Multiple law enforcement agencies responded to the scene, including the F.B.I. and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
The shootout and police siege plunged the Greenville neighborhood of gentrifying Jersey City, a residential area with a diverse population, including a budding community of ultra-Orthodox Jews, into chaos, fear and confusion.
Chesky Deutsch, a Hasidic Jew and a community activist who spoke with a shooting victim by phone, said the man was in his 20s and suffered three gunshot wounds.Chesky Deutsch, a Hasidic Jew and a community activist who spoke with a shooting victim by phone, said the man was in his 20s and suffered three gunshot wounds.
Mr. Deutsch said the victim was able to speak, but did not have a clear memory of what happened.Mr. Deutsch said the victim was able to speak, but did not have a clear memory of what happened.
The victim lives in Brooklyn and had been shopping at the store when the gunfight broke out.The victim lives in Brooklyn and had been shopping at the store when the gunfight broke out.
Next door to the supermarket is a small synagogue and yeshiva, Mr. Deutsch said.Next door to the supermarket is a small synagogue and yeshiva, Mr. Deutsch said.
He said up to 100 children had been trapped at the yeshiva next door, ranging in age from about seven to 12.He said up to 100 children had been trapped at the yeshiva next door, ranging in age from about seven to 12.
Children inside the building were on lockdown while the firefight and investigation occurred.Children inside the building were on lockdown while the firefight and investigation occurred.
Detective Seals had been a police officer for 15 years, rising through the ranks in Jersey City’s busy South District, according to Chief Kelly.
His most recent assignment was to a citywide Cease Fire unit, which concentrates on reducing shootings and making gun arrests
“He was our leading police officer in removing guns from the street,” Chief Kelly said. “Dozens of dozens of handguns he is responsible for removing from the street.”
Detective Seals was promoted in November 2017 and had been previously commended with his partner for saving a woman from a sexual assault on Christmas Eve in 2008.
The two officers climbed a fire escape and surprised the 23-year-old attacker, who was arrested and charged with criminal sexual contact and burglary.
The authorities believe Detective Seals was working to halt a gun crime when he came across the shooters at the cemetery.
“We believe he was killed while trying to interdict these bad guys at that other location,” the chief said.
On Tuesday night, more than a dozen, somber police officers stood guard outside Jersey City Medical Center. At one point, three plainclothes officers hugged a woman who was sobbing as she stood amid the glow of red and blue police lights.
At around 5 p.m., dozens of officers saluted outside the emergency room as a body covered in a white sheet was carried to a hearse and a small group of Hasidic Jews followed behind.
Residents cleared from their homes and stores watched anxiously from behind a barricade as SWAT teams, bomb squads and heavily armed officers overtook their neighborhoods.Residents cleared from their homes and stores watched anxiously from behind a barricade as SWAT teams, bomb squads and heavily armed officers overtook their neighborhoods.
As they stood at street corners, waiting for word that it would be safe to return, they described a tense standoff punctuated with exchanges of gunfire that did not stop until just before 2 p.m.As they stood at street corners, waiting for word that it would be safe to return, they described a tense standoff punctuated with exchanges of gunfire that did not stop until just before 2 p.m.
“I heard this constant shooting, and it kept going on for about 15 minutes,” said Willy McDonald, 67. By the time he came outside, there were cops everywhere. “There had to be at least 8 of them.”“I heard this constant shooting, and it kept going on for about 15 minutes,” said Willy McDonald, 67. By the time he came outside, there were cops everywhere. “There had to be at least 8 of them.”
“This is one of the biggest gunfights I’ve seen in a while,” said Mr. McDonald. “And I’ve been in Vietnam.”“This is one of the biggest gunfights I’ve seen in a while,” said Mr. McDonald. “And I’ve been in Vietnam.”
One frustrated resident, Corey McCloed, 39, said it was like the city was under siege.One frustrated resident, Corey McCloed, 39, said it was like the city was under siege.
Twelve public schools in the vicinity of the shooting were shut down and on lockdown, according to the superintendent of Jersey City Public Schools, Frank Walker. Sacred Heart School, a Catholic elementary school across the street from the scene of the shooting, was placed on lockdown during the attack, a spokeswoman said. The students there were not harmed.
Mr. Walker said he was told that gunfire broke out around 12:30 p.m. He and his staff were communicating with police officers, who were still responding to the shooting, he said. Twelve public schools in the vicinity of the shooting were also shut down and on lockdown, according to the superintendent of Jersey City Public Schools, Frank Walker.
Schools in neighboring Bayonne, N.J., were ordered to shelter in place as a result of the police activity.Schools in neighboring Bayonne, N.J., were ordered to shelter in place as a result of the police activity.
New Jersey Transit said it was suspending bus service and Hudson-Bergen Light Rail service as officers continued to respond. Kwame Opam, Sharon Otterman, Ed Shanahan and Ashley Southall contributed reporting.
Kwame Opam, Sharon Otterman and Ed Shanahan contributed reporting.