There are still a lot of questions as officials investigate what started as a fire call and ended up as an active shooter situation in South Jersey on Saturday, Oct. 19. NBC10’s Brian Sheehan has the latest and reaction from neighbors.
Police have said a man was killed after shooting at police in an incident that happened after officials arrived at a home in southern New Jersey on Saturday evening around 3:30 p.m. on a report of a fire.
According to officials in Burlington County, the incident began after first responders arrived to a home on Woodland Avenue in Pemberton Township earlier in the day for a reported fire.
Once responders were on the scene, at least one person started shooting a gun, officials said.
Initially it was unclear if the person who opened fire were inside or outside of the home, officials explained.
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In a video shared to Facebook by Mike Stocklas, several law enforcement officers can be seen responding to the situation.
Officials said that, as of about 7:30 p.m., on Saturday it was no longer an active shooter situation.
In an update on Sunday, officials said that an adult male was killed in the incident that happened in the Browns Mills section of Pemberton Township, New Jersey.
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As of about 12:30 p.m. Sunday, police declined to provide further identifying details on the man who was killed but, in a statement, they said that there was a firearm recovered near the man's body.
Officials did not immediately disclose the cause of the man's death and did not specify if the man was struck by police gunfire or if he died due to a self-inflicted gunshot.
The investigation is ongoing and, officials said that no further information would be immediatley available on Sunday.
The New Jersey Office of the Attorney General is investigating this incident.
Following the incident, one neighbor said the terrifying scene unfolded across the street with her kids were playing outside.
“We heard what sounded like a gunshot, so I told all the kids to come in. Next thing you know we saw all the cops down there," Jasmin Taylor said.
Taylor said troopers told her to shelter in place but she was eventually allowed back outside.
“My kids was very scared, my mother was scared, everybody in my household was a bit shooken up because nothing like that has ever happened before," she said.
Other neighbors told NBC10 that they were surprised by the police activity in their town.
"You just don’t see that many police around here," Mark Ruquet explained. "Surprising to say the least."
One neighbor, Larry Blinn, said that the town is a family-friendly sort of neighborhood. He said that he was sitting on his porch when he learned of what was happening.
"I was shocked," Blinn said. "We never have any problem."
Another neighbor explained how she was trying to get home but with the roads closed, she ended up having to walk.
This is a breaking news story. Check back here for updates.
