Jersey City Standoff: Police Officer among Six Dead

By Staff, Agencies

Four people, including a police officer and three people believed to be civilians, were killed during an hours-long standoff and firefight Tuesday between two suspects and law enforcement in Jersey City, New Jersey, authorities said.

Two suspects were also killed, Jersey City Police Chief Michael Kelly told reporters.

The fallen officer was identified as Det. Joseph Seals, a 15-year veteran of the department, Kelly said.

Seals was part of a statewide anti-violence unit, and Kelly credited him with removing "dozens and dozens" of handguns from the street.

"We believe he was killed while trying to interdict these bad guys," Kelly told reporters, adding, "Once again, this is all being investigated."

The officer who was killed is believed to have been ambushed, according to a law enforcement source.

Two officers and one civilian were in stable condition after being struck by gunfire, Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez said via Twitter. The wounded officers were identified by Kelly as Ray Sanchez and Mariela Fernandez. They were both treated and released.

Hours after the first gunshots, the details of what led to the incident and how it unfolded remain unclear.

The shooting began at about 12:30 p.m. ET and drew reinforcements from neighboring jurisdictions, police said, virtually shutting down commerce in some areas and forcing schools to go on lockdown.

The investigation will take weeks and could stretch on for months, Kelly said. "The crime scene is very extensive," he told reporters, "and is at three locations, at least."

Part of the investigation involves a stolen U-Haul truck, which Kelly said may contain an incendiary device and was being examined by the bomb squad.

There is no indication of terrorism, Jersey City Department of Public Safety Director James Shea said.