Six people killed in hours-long cemetery shoot-out in Jersey City
Policeman among the dead as massive gun battle breaks out forcing residents to flee in terror, writes Alison Meikle
SIX people, including a police officer and three bystanders, were killed in a furious gun battle that filled the streets of Jersey City with the sound of heavy gunfire for hours, US authorities said.
The dead included two suspects, Jersey City Police Chief Michael Kelly said.
The shooting took place at two scenes, starting at a cemetery, where the officer was gunned down, and continued at a kosher supermarket, where five more bodies were found, Kelly said.
“Our officers were under fire for hours,” the chief said.
He would not say exactly what set off the shooting but said he believes the officer who was killed was trying to stop some “bad guys”.
City Public Safety Director James Shea said that authorities believe the bloodshed was not an act of terrorism but it was still under investigation.
Two other officers were wounded but were later released from the hospital, authorities said.
The bullets started flying early in the afternoon in the city of about 270,000 people, situated across the Hudson River from the Statue of Liberty.
The shooting spread fear through the neighbourhood, and the nearby Sacred Heart School was put on lockdown as a precaution.
Swat teams, state police and federal agents converged on the scene, and police blocked off the area, which in addition to the school and supermarket included a hair salon and other shops.
Dozens of bystanders pressed against the police barrier to capture the action on their mobile phones, some whooping when bursts of fire could be heard.
Video shot by residents recorded loud volleys of gunfire reverberating along one of the city’s main streets and showed a long line of officers pointing guns as they advanced, yelling to bystanders: “Clear the street! Get out of the way!”
“It’s like firecrackers going off,” said Andy Patel, who works at a liquor store about three blocks away.
“They were shooting like crazy. The cops were clearing everyone off the streets.”
President Donald Trump tweeted:
“Just received a briefing on the horrific shootout that took place in Jersey City, NJ. Our thoughts & prayers are w/ the victims & their families during this very difficult & tragic time. We will continue to monitor the situation as we assist local & state officials on the ground.”
Authorities identified the police officer who died as Joseph Seals, 39, who was part of a state-wide programme to confiscate illegal weaponry.
Speaking to reporters, Jersey City Police Chief Mike Kelly said Mr Seals was a “leading police officer in removing guns from the street”.
Mr Kelly said violence first erupted at a cemetery just after 12pm local time (5pm GMT) on Tuesday. Local media reported that confrontation between police and the suspects was linked to a murder investigation, but this has not been confirmed by authorities.
Police at the scene immediately came under “high-powered rifle fire”, Mr Kelly told reporters, and it is believed that Mr Seals was killed while approaching the two suspects, who have not been publicly identified.
The pair fled the scene in a van and took shelter in a kosher supermarket where they held off armed police and federal officials for four hours, shooting off hundreds of rounds of ammunition.
Investigators believe the two gunmen killed three people in the shop before they were shot dead. At least one survivor from the shop was treated for injuries.
Mr Kelly said investigators also believe the suspects’ van contained an “incendiary device” which was removed and taken away for examination by police disposal specialists.
Officials initially said they believed the shop was chosen at random and that they did not believe it was an act of terrorism.
But on Tuesday night Jersey City
Mayor Steven Fulop said on Twitter that authorities “now believe the active shooters targeted the location they attacked”.
“Due to an excess of caution the community may see additional police resources in the days/weeks ahead,” Mr Fulop said, noting there has been no indication of further threats.
Officials have not elaborated on why they believe the location was targeted. They have also not commented further on whether the attack was driven by anti-semitism.
But New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said while there was no known threat to the city, he had also placed police on high alert, especially in Jewish communities. Jersey City is part of the New York metropolitan area.
“This tragically confirms that a growing pattern of violent anti-semitism has now turned into a crisis for our nation,” he said in a tweet. “And now this threat has reached the doorstep of New York City.”
It’s like firecrackers going off. They were shooting like crazy. The cops were clearing everyone off the streets