LONG BRANCH, N.J. (1010 WINS) — A New Jersey man was killed early Saturday morning after allegedly shooting a law enforcement officer and barricading himself in his home for hours, officials said.
The gunman opened fire on officers at the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office Friday evening around 5 p.m. as they attempted to execute a warrant in the shooter's Long Branch apartment on the 200-block of Chelsea Avenue, according to acting State Attorney General Andrew Bruck.
A detective among the team was shot in the lower leg, sparking a roughly 9-hour standoff outside the home, Bruck's office said in a news release.
After the gunman opened fire, the officers repositioned themselves outside the apartment.
At about 2 a.m., a fire broke out in the apartment and the man allegedly opened fire as he attempted to flee, the AG said. Sources told NBC4 the man was carrying a 2-week-old baby as he left the apartment, holding the infant as a human shield.
Officers returned fire, striking and killing the man, who was pronounced dead at the scene.
First responders managed to safely recover the baby from outside the home, NBC4 reported.
The detective who was shot in the lower leg was transported to a local hospital and discharged later in the evening, according to Bruck's office
The officers were attempting to execute a warrant in relation to a homicide investigation, Bruck's office said.
