This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-22505031
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Two bodies found after New Jersey hostage stand-off | |
(about 7 hours later) | |
US police have ended a 37-hour-long stand-off with an armed 38-year-old man who took three people hostage in a house in New Jersey, authorities say. | |
Gerald Murphy, who had barricaded himself and three children inside a house in Trenton since Friday, died from a fatal bullet wound. | |
The bodies of a woman and her 13-year-old son were found inside the house. | The bodies of a woman and her 13-year-old son were found inside the house. |
Police said they stormed the house early on Sunday morning after noting Murphy's "deteriorating state of mind". | Police said they stormed the house early on Sunday morning after noting Murphy's "deteriorating state of mind". |
Police initially went to the home after the 19-year-old son of Carmelita Stevens, 44, told the authorities he had not seen his mother or sisters since the end of last month, Trenton Police Director Ralph Rivera said. | Police initially went to the home after the 19-year-old son of Carmelita Stevens, 44, told the authorities he had not seen his mother or sisters since the end of last month, Trenton Police Director Ralph Rivera said. |
When police officers entered the home on Friday, they noticed an odour consistent with that of a decomposing body, he added. | When police officers entered the home on Friday, they noticed an odour consistent with that of a decomposing body, he added. |
They pulled back on finding Gerald "Skip" Murphy, who said he was armed with a gun and explosives and had three unidentified people with him - a 16-year-old girl, a four-year-old boy and a woman aged 18. | They pulled back on finding Gerald "Skip" Murphy, who said he was armed with a gun and explosives and had three unidentified people with him - a 16-year-old girl, a four-year-old boy and a woman aged 18. |
Hostage negotiators remained in contact with Murphy throughout the standoff, passing food and water through an upper window of the two-storey house, New Jersey State Police Colonel Rick Fuentes said on Sunday morning. | Hostage negotiators remained in contact with Murphy throughout the standoff, passing food and water through an upper window of the two-storey house, New Jersey State Police Colonel Rick Fuentes said on Sunday morning. |
Police stormed the house at 03:45 local time (08:45 GMT) and an officer fired a single shot at Murphy, who was taken to hospital and later died of his injuries. | Police stormed the house at 03:45 local time (08:45 GMT) and an officer fired a single shot at Murphy, who was taken to hospital and later died of his injuries. |
The body of Carmelita Stevens, Murphy's girlfriend, was found in a state of decomposition. She is believed to have died two weeks ago, police said. | |
Police confirmed that Murphy was not the father of any of the children rescued. | Police confirmed that Murphy was not the father of any of the children rescued. |
He had an extensive criminal record including previous convictions for robbery, weapons offences and child endangerment, according to Mercer County Prosecutor Joseph Boccini. | He had an extensive criminal record including previous convictions for robbery, weapons offences and child endangerment, according to Mercer County Prosecutor Joseph Boccini. |
Previous version
1
Next version