A man armed with a machete was fatally shot by police Monday evening, after which authorities discovered three deceased individuals inside a home in Piscataway, New Jersey.
According to reports from WABC, Fox 5, and My Central Jersey, officers from the Piscataway Police Department responded to a call about a person with a knife at a residence on River Road around 5:30 p.m. local time on Jan. 5.
When officers arrived, the man allegedly charged toward them. Police attempted to subdue him using Tasers, but those efforts were unsuccessful. As the suspect continued advancing, officers opened fire, fatally shooting him. The weapon was later identified as a machete, sources told Fox 5.
Following the shooting, police entered the residence and found three people dead inside. Authorities told the outlets that two of the victims were grandparents, while the identity of the third person has not yet been confirmed. Investigators are also working to determine the relationship between the victims and the suspect.
The Piscataway Township Police Department stated on Facebook that the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office and the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office are leading the homicide investigation.
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“This appears to be an isolated incident, and there is no indication of an ongoing threat to the community,” police said in the statement. “At this time, there is no danger to the general public. Additional information will be shared when appropriate and the investigation allows. We thank the community for its cooperation.”
New Jersey State Policemen’s Benevolent Association president Peter Andreyev wrote in a statement on X that the organization was aware of the incident and that officers involved were being evaluated. He also thanked members of the public who reached out to offer support.
Authorities have not released the identities of the suspect or the victims. The causes of death for those found inside the home have also not yet been determined, according to Fox 5.
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Neighbors described a sudden and shocking scene. “I was pretty much about to start making dinner, and then I just heard the cops come next door,” resident Jessica Conroy said, according to WABC. “I looked outside the window and they had their weapons drawn, and then we heard the shots go off.”
Another neighbor, Keith Heron, said the area is typically quiet. “Very nice lady. Very nice, quiet neighborhood. It’s so tragic that something like this happens.”
Residents told WABC they had generally positive interactions with the people who lived in the home.
