Police Fatally Shoot Man Armed with Machete Before Discovering 3 Dead Bodies Inside Home

Police in Piscataway, New Jersey, fatally shot a man armed with a machete after responding to reports of a knife-wielding individual — a confrontation that later led to the discovery of three deceased people inside a nearby home.

According to WABC, Fox 5, and My Central Jersey, officers from the Piscataway Police Department were dispatched to a residence on River Road at approximately 5:30 p.m. local time on Monday, Jan. 5, following an alert about a person armed with a knife.

Authorities said that when officers arrived, the man charged toward them. Police initially attempted to subdue him using Tasers, but those efforts were unsuccessful. As the suspect continued advancing, officers opened fire, killing him at the scene.

The weapon was later confirmed to be a machete, sources told Fox 5.

After the shooting, police searched the residence and discovered three deceased individuals inside. Officials told media outlets that two of the victims were grandparents, while the identity of the third person has not yet been determined. Investigators are also working to establish the relationship, if any, between the suspect and the victims.

The Piscataway Township Police Department confirmed on Facebook that the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office and the New Jersey Attorney’s General Office are jointly investigating the case.

“This appears to be an isolated incident, and there is no indication of an ongoing threat to the community,” the department stated. “At this time, there is no danger to the general public. Additional information will be shared when appropriate and the investigation allows.”

New Jersey State Policemen’s Benevolent Association President Peter Andreyev also addressed the incident in a statement posted on X, saying authorities were aware of the “horrific crime” in Middlesex County and that officers involved were being evaluated. He thanked community members for their support.

The identities of the suspect and the victims have not yet been released. Officials also have not disclosed the causes of death for the three individuals found inside the home, according to Fox 5.

Neighbors described the moment police arrived as sudden and alarming. “I was pretty much about to start making dinner, and then I just heard the cops come next door,” resident Jessica Conroy told 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 neighborhood was typically quiet and peaceful. “Very nice lady. Very nice, quiet neighborhood. It’s so tragic that something like this happens,” he said.

Residents added that they had only positive interactions with the people who lived in the home, WABC reported.