TRENTON, NJ — The New Jersey Attorney General’s Office has initiated an investigation into a fatal police shooting that took place in the early hours of Thursday in Woodbridge Township’s Fords section.
The incident began on Wednesday when Edison Police were alerted by an Automated License Plate Reader about a vehicle linked to a serious shooting in New York City. This vehicle was subsequently located unoccupied at the Royal Albert’s Palace hotel on King Georges Post Road in Woodbridge. New York City Police Department detectives joined the scene to assist with the investigation.
During a civilian interview at the hotel, around 12:21 a.m. Thursday, gunfire erupted as the person of interest from the NYPD’s investigation emerged from an elevator. The preliminary report indicates that the suspect reached into a backpack, prompting an exchange of gunfire with law enforcement. The suspect and two police officers were struck during the shootout.
The injured, including one Woodbridge Police Department officer and one NYPD detective, received immediate medical attention and were transported to a hospital in New Brunswick. They have since been discharged and are reported to be in stable condition.
The suspect was pronounced dead at the scene, and a handgun was recovered alongside evidence from multiple firearms. The ongoing investigation will further analyze the circumstances and the evidence collected at the scene.