PISCATAWAY, NJ – A man wielding a machete was shot and killed by police officers Monday after he charged at them despite being hit with tasers, and when cops entered his home, they found three more bodies – his mother and both grandparents.
The nightmare began when the suspect’s own father called 911 to report the situation at the Middlesex County residence. When Piscataway police officers arrived, they were confronted by a man armed with a large blade.
Officers tried to take him down with tasers first, but the weapons had no effect. The man then rushed directly at the cops while brandishing the machete, leaving them no choice but to open fire. He died at the scene.
What officers discovered inside the house made a terrible situation even worse. The man’s mother and his grandparents were all dead. Authorities haven’t released details about how they died or what may have led to the violence.
The New Jersey Office of Public Integrity and Accountability has taken over the investigation into the police shooting, which is standard procedure for officer-involved deaths in the state. Under a 2019 law, such cases must be presented to a grand jury to determine whether the officers could face charges.
Peter Andreyev, president of the New Jersey State Policemen’s Benevolent Association, acknowledged the gravity of what happened.
“We are aware of the horrific crime in Middlesex County tonight,” Andreyev said in a statement. “All our members that were involved are being evaluated.”
The identities of the four deceased individuals haven’t been publicly released. Investigators are still working to determine what sparked the violence that left an entire family dead.
The shooting occurred on Monday, January 5th, and the investigation remains ongoing.
