New Jersey State Police reported that at least two people were killed and 12 injured during a mass shooting at a party attended by at least 100 people in rural Cumberland County.
The shooting at a home in the 1000 block of E. Commerce Street in the Fairfield Township and Bridgeton area occurred around midnight Sunday on property located in a wooded area near a cemetery and school.
Melissa Helmbrecht, who works for Hopeloft, a Bridgeton advocacy group for at-risk youth, said several youth from the group were at the party at the time of the shooting.
“It was hundreds of people, our neighbors, who were gathering because it was the first really warm and pleasant night. There were many parties and gatherings throughout the community, and this was probably the biggest,” Helmbrecht said.
John Fuqua told NBC10 that his family members were at the party and that his nephew had to run for his life as shots rang out from the woods.
“My nephew said he was having fun and the next thing he heard was shoot and run for his life. He threw himself on the ground, had to crawl. He ran over a corpse,” he said.
At least 9 people died and two children are hospitalized.
Police could be seen searching the area with dogs on a large perimeter.
It was unclear who opened fire or why, and no arrests were immediately reported.
This is a story in development and will be updated as there are updates.