VINELAND, NJ – A man in a stolen backhoe went on a rampage in Vineland on Saturday at the Penn Lincoln Mobile Home Park. Police eventually shot the suspect, killing him. Witnesses reported the man turned over and crashed into several cars including an ambulance and a police car before being taken down by responding officers.
Now, the Attorney General’s Office is conducting an investigation of the fatal police-involved shooting. One male suspect sustained fatal injuries. His identity is not being released at this time. During an encounter in the Penn Lincoln Mobile Home Park at approximately 5:30 a.m., one police officer of the Vineland Police Department fired his service weapon, fatally wounding the man. First aid was rendered by officers and emergency medical personnel. The man was pronounced dead at the scene at approximately 5:48 a.m.
Three Vineland police officers sustained minor injuries during the incident. They were treated and released.
This investigation is being conducted pursuant to Attorney General Directive 2019-4, which implements the statutory requirement that the Attorney General’s Office conduct the investigation of any death that occurs during an encounter with a law enforcement officer acting in the officer’s official capacity or while the decedent is in custody, and which establishes clear standards and procedures for conducting such investigations.