Officers shot in New Jersey standoff, school on lockdown

JERSEY CITY, N.J. (AP) — Police officers were shot Tuesday in the Jersey City standoff that left a neighbourhood, including a school, on lockdown, authorities said.

Sporadic, heavy gunfire rang out over the course of at least an hour along a major thoroughfare.

SWAT teams, state police and federal agents responded to the scene, and police blocked off the area, which has a Catholic school, some stores, a kosher supermarket and a hairstylist.

FBI spokeswoman Patty Hartman said that more than one officer has been shot but could not give any other information.

She said the bureau is assisting.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the men and women of the Jersey City Police Department, especially with the officers shot during this standoff, and with the residents and schoolchildren currently under lockdown,” Democratic Governor Phil Murphy said.

“I have every confidence in our law enforcement professionals to ensure the safety of the community and resolve this situation.”

Phones rang unanswered at several businesses in the area.

S​omeone who answered the phone at the Catholic school, which runs from preschool through eighth grade, said all the children were safe as a lockdown continues.

Police tactical teams were going through the school, according to scanner traffic.

Loud volleys of gunfire could be heard at regular intervals but subsided around 2:00 p.m. in the city, which is just across the Hudson River from Manhattan.

Dozens of bystanders pressed against the police barrier to film the action on cellphones, some whooping when gunfire bursts filled the air.

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