A police officer, three civilians and two suspects were killed Tuesday afternoon during a shootout and standoff in Jersey City,New Jersey, authorities said.
The deadly mayhem started when the slain officer was investigating a murder and approached two suspects – when one of them opened fire, shooting the officer in the head and killing him, law enforcement sources told NBC News.
The two suspects then fled in a rental van and holed up in a grocery store a few blocks away, near Martin Luther King Drive and Bidwell Avenue, about 8 miles southwest of Midtown Manhattan in New York City , law enforcement sources said.
The suspects and three residents werekilled inside that grocery store in the ensuing gun battle,sources said .
Let our news meet your inbox. The news and stories that matters, delivered weekday mornings.
The officer killed was and the father of five children, officials said.
SWAT officers and first responders, including Hatzalah paramedics, who serve the orthodox Jewish community, rushed to the scene.
“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, “New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said in a statement.
“I have every confidence in our law enforcement professionals to ensure the safety of the community and resolve this situation. Today reminds us of their bravery and the sacrifices they, and their families, make for our communities. “
All schools in Jersey City were put on lockdown,while campuses in nearby Bayonnewere under a “shelter in place “order as a precaution, officials said.
” All students and staff are safe however a number of schools are currently on “lockdown, the Jersey City School District at 1: pm
(Downloadthe NBC News appfor breaking news
SWAT teams with Jersey City and state police were among those responding. Federal agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in Newark and the FBI were also on the scene.
“I can hear the gunshots. It’s like firecrackers going off, “said Andy Patel, who works at a liquor store about three blocks away from the scene.
” They were shooting like crazy about an hour ago. Then it stopped for like or minutes. The cops were clearing everyone off the streets. “
Jonathan Dienst is a reporter for WNBC-TV in New York, leading its investigative reporting team and covering justice and law enforcement issues. David K . Li is a breaking news reporter for NBC News. Minyvonne Burke, Doha Madani and Associated Press contributed.
********************************
**************************** (**************************************(Read More
**************************************
GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings