Shooters Kill Five in Hours Long Stand Off in Jersey City, New Jersey
- Details
- Category: Crime
- Published on Wednesday, 11 December 2019 17:05
- Written by Janet Walker
A decorated Jersey City Police detective, the wife of a store owner, and two members of the Jewish community were gunned down yesterday in Jersey City, N.J., by two members of the Black Hebrew Israelite militant group.
Detective Joseph Seals, 40, a fifteen-year veteran of the Jersey City Police Department was the first to be killed after approaching the shooters, Francine Graham, 50, and David N. Anderson, 47, in a cemetery while investigating the murder of Uber driver, Michael Rumberger, 34, who was discovered in Bayonne, New Jersey, stuffed in the trunk of his town car. He had been beat to death.
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Seals, a husband and father of five, was shot and killed at close range. The pair then drove down Martin Luther King Boulevard, which is a combination of African American and Jewish business owners, and it appears they pulled into a free parking space and began firing as they casually walked toward the JC Kosher Supermarket.
A street camera shows the shooters firing as they entered the store, and the midday crowd sprinting away from the scene, as well as a fifth person in the store escaping through the front door of the grocers.
Jersey City police who were close to the scene returned fire and a two-hour long hostage gun battle began. Within minutes heavy police presence, tactile teams including armored vehicles and SWAT appeared on the scene and it became apparent a peaceful solution was not possible.
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As the gun battle came to an end, the tactile team breached the front of the store with an armored vehicle. Upon entry they found both shooters and three additional victims.
The victims inside the store include the wife of the store owner, Mindy Ferencz, 31, Moshe Deutsch 24, Miguel Douglas, 49, members of the Williamsburg, Brooklyn Hasidic community. Two Jersey City Police officers were wounded in the exchange. They have since been treated and released.
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New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy reacted to the unfolding targeted attacked yesterday stating, "Our thoughts and prayers are with the men and women of the Jersey City Police Department, especially with the officers shot during this standoff. I have every confidence in our law enforcement professionals. Today reminds us of their bravery and the sacrifices they, and their families, make for our communities."
Jersey City Mayor, Steven Fulop @stevenfulop, defended his labeling the crime a hate crime, on twitter responding, "Why I call this a hate crime. We shouldn't parse words on whether this is a hate crime at this point. This was a hate crime against Jewish ppl + hate has no place. The video is clear that the drivers drove to that location, the video is clear that the shooters bypassed potential targets near the store, the video is clear that the drivers bypassed potential targets driving to the store, it is also clear they chose a Jewish Grocery store next to a yeshiva after driving to that location, it is also clear that they began shooting into the store from across the street, it is also clear that the shooters have indicated on social media favorable sentiment towards groups that show antisemitism. It is also clear that there was a pipe bomb in the vehicle showing an intent to hurt many more ppl."
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New York City Mayor and former Democratic Presidential candidate, stated, "This was a premeditated anti-Semitic hate crime in other words you can say it was an act of terror, because it was directed at the Jewish community. It is enough to tell us that this was an act of hate and an act of terror."
