TRENTON, N.J. – The New Jersey Attorney General’s Office is investigating a police-involved shooting in Hillsborough Township after officers responding to a welfare check encountered a knife-wielding man and later found two people dead inside the same residence.
According to preliminary findings, Hillsborough officers entered a house on Cornell Trail around 6:23 p.m. Thursday. While inside, a man came out of an upstairs bedroom holding a knife and advanced toward officers. He was shot and remains hospitalized with life-threatening injuries, authorities said Friday.
The knife was recovered at the scene.
After the shooting, officers discovered two deceased individuals in separate bedrooms. The Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office is handling the investigation into their deaths.
Officials have not released the identities of the injured man, the two deceased individuals, or the officers involved.
Under New Jersey law, the Attorney General’s Office is required to investigate all deaths that occur during encounters with law enforcement officers. Such cases must also be presented to a grand jury to determine whether criminal charges against the officers are warranted.
Key Points
- Police conducting a welfare check in Hillsborough shot a knife-wielding man Thursday evening.
- The man remains hospitalized with life-threatening injuries, and two others were found dead inside the home.
- The Attorney General’s Office and Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office are investigating.
A quiet suburban welfare check quickly spiraled into a deadly and complex investigation.