GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP, N.J. (AP) - A man who had been arrested for
allegedly stalking an ex-girlfriend overpowered an officer inside a
police station, grabbed her gun and shot her and two other officers
before being killed by police early Friday, authorities said.
All three wounded officers were expected to recover.
Eddie Jones III, 39, of Willingboro, overpowered
Officer Ruth Burns inside the station in Gloucester Township, a
Philadelphia suburb, police said. He fired at her and two officers who
had been in a nearby room and came rushing to aid their colleague. The
two officers fired on Jones, killing him.
"This morning, the reality of a cruel world fell
upon our doorstep," said Mayor David Mayer. "We thank God our officers
are expected to fully recover."
Sgt. James Garber was shot multiple times and
underwent emergency surgery for a gunshot wound to the abdomen; his life
was saved by a bulletproof vest. He also suffered a graze wound to the
head.
Sgt. Kevin Thine suffered a laceration to his abdomen and a graze wound to the chin. Burns was shot in the foot.
Jones, a civilian employee of the New Jersey
Department of Corrections, had been arrested for stalking the home of a
former girlfriend after a caller told police they saw a suspicious man
lurking at about 1 a.m.
He was brought back to police headquarters and when
his handcuffs were removed for a brief period during processing, he
lunged at Burns, knocking her down and taking her weapon, police Chief
Harry Earle said.
The suspect "unleashed a barrage of gunfire" at the
officers, Earle said. Jones was struck multiple times by return fire
and was pronounced dead at the scene, the chief said.
The shooting will be reviewed by the state attorney
general, as is customary with all shootings involving police officers.
But Camden County Prosecutor Warren Faulk said initial evidence shows
that the officers responded to gunfire that was initiated by the
suspect, and returned fire to save their lives and those of other
officers in the building.
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