NJ police hunt for gunmen who fired at home of Camden cops, newborn
By Yaron Steinbuch and Craig McCarthy
New York Post
September 18, 2020
Two New Jersey cops at home with their newborn baby were “targeted” by gunmen who riddled the house with bullets — just the latest attack on police officers across the country, authorities said.
The husband-and-wife cops and their 10-day-old girl escaped injury when six rounds ripped into their house in Camden — with two slugs tearing through the front door, Camden Police Chief Joseph Wysocki said.
Investigators haven’t uncovered a motive for the unprovoked shooting, but it’s “very common knowledge” that the two Camden County officers live there, Wysocki said.
“I do know that this is a targeted attack against this residence where the officers reside,” Wysocki said during a Thursday night news conference.
“The attack on our officers was an affront to the department and will not be tolerated.”
The male officer, who’s listed as the owner of the Clinton Street residence, told The Post he was “not commenting at this time” when reached by phone Friday morning.
Payroll records show the husband joined the force in December 2016 and his wife was sworn in in July 2019, according to payroll records.
The Camden chief said of the attack, “It hurts.”
“I have 400 officers, everybody is hurt at this time and there is a lot of anxiety. I’m not going to let three people or four people like change what’s going on in Camden,” he said.
“Everyone is investigating this and helping us to bring these thugs in to justice. We are going to catch them, and we are going to bring them in,” Wysocki added. “Ten days before this incident, they had their first baby together and started a family.”
Investigators found seven empty shell casings in front of the home and identified a 1998 Honda Odyssey with a temporary paper tag in the area during the incident, which took place around 11:45 p.m. Tuesday.
Wysocki said there were three people in the minivan during the shooting, a driver and the two suspected gunmen.
On Thursday morning, investigators located and towed the vehicle for investigation, officials said.
FBI Special Agent Michael Driscoll said at the presser that “the possibility that someone may have targeted law enforcement causes a true threat to the citizens of Camden.”
“We’re determined to get to the bottom of this together,” he added.
Camden County Freeholder Louis Cappelli said he told the chief to “do whatever is necessary to stop anymore more violence against our officers, immediately.”
“This mindless evil conduct will not be tolerated,” Cappelli said. “I want to share a very clear message to the scumbag thugs behind this senseless act. We’re coming to get you and you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
He added: “If you think you can get away with these crimes under the cover of some unfortunate acts taking place in other parts of the nation, or under cover of some national movement, you are wrong.”
A reward of $20,000 for information leading to arrest of the suspects was offered by the FBI, the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and local Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 218.
Neighbors expressed shock and said it gives them comfort to live near police.
“They’re visible all the time,” Jewell Rippie told the Philadelphia CBS affiliate.
“It’s quite disturbing. The baby was in there. People can just be so cruel,” neighbor Farrah Adams told the Courier Post.
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