Deadly Jersey City Shootout: 6 Killed Including Police Officer

A gun battle in Jersey City killed six people, including a police officer and three bystanders. According to Jersey City Police Chief Michael Kelly, the dead included the two gunmen.

Authorities said that Detective Joseph Seals, the deceased officer, “was credited by his superiors with having led the department in the number of illegal guns removed from the streets in recent years, and might have been trying to stop an incident involving such weapons when he was cut down by gunfire that erupted near a cemetery,” said Associated Press. A law enforcement source said Seals is believed to have been ambushed.

Based on our initial investigation (which is ongoing) we 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. We have no indication there are any further threats

— Steven Fulop (@StevenFulop) December 11, 2019

According to Kelly, the shooting continued at a kosher supermarket about a mile away where five more bodies were found.

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Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop tweeted: “Based on our initial investigation (which is ongoing) we 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. We have no indication there are any further threats.” Fulop also said that Seals “was one of the best officers for getting the most guns off the streets. He was a good cop.” There were also two wounded officers but were later released from the hospital. They were identified as Ray Sanchez and Mariela Fernandez.

A report by Associated Press said the bullets “started flying early in the afternoon in the city of about 270,000 people, situated across the Hudson River from New York City.” New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy praised law enforcement who “responded to this incident not knowing what they were entering, or if they would even make it out,” as reported by CNN.