HollyMatkinMillville, NJ – An armed gunman was fatally shot by police in a residential neighborhood, after he allegedly gunned down a man and wounded the mother of his two young children, police said (video below).
The incident occurred on April 14 in Winslow Township, after 55-year-old Jose Pietri shot and killed 47-year-old Derek White, NJ.com reported.
Pietri also shot the 35-year-old mother of his two children, and left her seriously wounded, police said.
The couple’s children, ages 2 and 3, were missing from the residence when officers arrived.
Investigators later spotted Pietri’s vehicle near the scene of the shooting, and attempted to pull him over, NJ.com reported.
Pietri proceeded to lead officers on a pursuit from Camden County to Cumberland County, before he was ultimately cornered on a dead-end street in southern Millville, the Daily Journal reported.
As he roadway abruptly ended, Pietri veered to the right, then made a sharp left-hand turn towards a curb, dashcam footage showed.
A juvenile female then jumped out of the passenger side of the suspect’s vehicle, and ran to the opposite side of the roadway, as Millville Police Officer Joseph Dixon rounded the front of his patrol car, the Daily Journal reported.
The officer quickly ushered her away from the scene, then pointed his weapon towards the driver’s side of the suspect’s vehicle, the video showed.
The vehicle rolled towards the curb, as Pietri opened the driver’s door and faced Officer Dixon. The officer made a downward motion with his left arm, possibly in an effort to direct Pietri to get onto the ground.
Video shows that as Pietri began to raise what appears to be a gun, Officer Dixon opened fire.
The man collapsed to the ground, while dust from the impacting bullets rose up around him.
Additional officers arrived at the scene, and dragged Pietri away from the vehicle.
He was rushed to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead, NJ.com reported.
According to a use of force report, Pietri threatened officers with a firearm and shot at police during the pursuit. Officer Dixon noted that he fired a total of 14 rounds at the gunman.
Investigators later found the missing children safe at another residence.
According to police, Pietri was charged with aggravated assault of a victim less than 13 years old and endangering in 2001, but he ultimately pleaded guilty to only the endangering offense.
He was sentenced to three years in prison.
In 2014, Pietri was found to be in violation of his lifetime community supervision, and was sentenced to an additional year of probation and community service.
The officer-involved shooting investigation is ongoing, police said.
You can watch the gunfight video below. Warning – Graphic Content: