Deadly shooting in Jersey City

What you need to know about the Jersey City shooting

A Jersey City police officer reacts at the scene of a shooting in New Jersey. Rick Loomis/Getty Images

 

A deadly shooting occurred today during an hours-long standoff between two suspects and law enforcement in Jersey City, New Jersey.

Here's what we know:

• What happened: The shooting started about 12:30 p.m. ET in one part of the city, and ended following a tense standoff with police in another part of town.
• The victims: A police detective and three people believed to be civilians, who were found inside a building, were killed. Two officers and one civilian were in stable condition after being struck by gunfire, Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez said via Twitter.
• Suspects dead: The suspects were killed during the standoff, Jersey City Police Chief Michael Kelly said.
• The fallen officer: He was identified as Det. Joseph Seals, a 15-year veteran of the Jersey City Police Department. Seals was part of a statewide anti-violence unit. He was credited with removing "dozens and dozens" of handguns from the streets, the police chief said.
• The investigation: The shooting investigation will "take weeks, maybe months," Kelly said. "The crime scene is very extensive and is at three locations, at least."

 

4 hr 31 min ago

New Jersey governor: "This was an incredibly tough day for Jersey City"

From CNN's Rob Frehse

 

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy speaks with reporters near the scene a shooting in Jersey City. Eduardo Munoz Alvarez/AP

 

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, speaking at a news conference tonight, expressed "an immense debt of gratitude" for a police detective killed in today's shooting.

“Our sadness comes with an immense debt of gratitude for his service and sacrifice,” Murphy said. “Our condolences are with his wife and children and their entire family at this extraordinarily tough time.”

Earlier today, Jersey City Police Chief Michael Kelly identified the fallen officer as Det. Joseph Seals, a 15-year veteran of the Jersey City Police Department.

The governor went on to say he was "grateful the other officers wounded are currently recovering." He also offered his condolences to the families of three people believed to be civilians who were found dead inside a building.

“This was an incredibly tough day for Jersey City and for the entire state of New Jersey,” Murphy said.

  

6 hr 11 min ago

Bomb squad investigates stolen U-Haul from the scene

The bomb squad is examining a stolen U-Haul from the scene, according to the Jersey City Police Chief Michael Kelly.

The U-Haul, which has removed from the scene, may contain an incendiary device, he said.

Kelly said the shooting investigation will "take weeks, maybe months."

“The crime scene is very extensive and is at three locations at least,” he said. 

4 hr 45 min ago

Officer killed in shooting identified as Jersey City police detective

From CNN's Rob Frehse

Det. Joseph Seals, a 15-year-veteran of the Jersey City Police Department, was killed in today's shooting, according to the city's Police Chief Michael Kelly.

“He was our leading police officer in removing guns from the street,” Kelly said. “Dozens and dozens of handguns, he is responsible for removing from the street.”

Seals was part of the Cease Fire Unit, which is a statewide anti-violence program aimed at confiscating illegal weapons and limiting gun crimes through community outreach, according to the unit’s website.

Seals was working when “he came upon bad guys," Kelly said.

“We believe that he was killed while trying to interdict these bad guys,” the police chief said.

Two other officers who were injured in the shooting have been treated and released from the hospital, Kelly said. Earlier, Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop said three officers were injured. 

“You should know that the police department in Jersey City and our partners did an extraordinary job under very difficult circumstances under high-power rifle fire, where no other citizens in Jersey City were struck by gunfire and our police officers were brave until finally the threat was neutralized,” Kelly said.

5 hr 55 min ago

Councilman says gunshots kept "going and going and going without a pause"

From CNN's Patrick Cornell

 

 

Jersey City Councilman Jermaine Robinson told CNN affiliate News 12 New Jersey he was working in his office when he heard the gunshots from today's shooting.

The councilman said it was "something that I never heard in my life."

"This was something different," he said, adding that the gunfire "kept going and going and going without a pause."

 

6 people dead, including suspects, in Jersey City shooting

Six people are dead, including two suspects, following a shooting in Jersey City this afternoon, the city's Police Chief Michael Kelly said.

One of the dead is a police officer, Kelly said. The other five people, including the suspects, were found dead in a building, the police chief added.

News Courtesy: www.cnn.com