GLOUCESTER TWP., N.J. -
The man who allegedly shot and wounded three South Jersey officers inside a police station Friday morning before being fatally shot himself was a New Jersey Department of Corrections employee, police say.
Police identified 39-year-old Eddie Jones III, of Willingboro, as the gunman during a Friday afternoon news conference.
Police said Jones was being processed after an arrest on domestic violence and stalking charges. When his handcuffs were removed, he suddenly tackled an officer, disarmed her of a .40-caliber weapon and began firing rapidly.
The officer shouted for help, and other officers responded immediately.
Jones was shot multiple times by police and pronounced dead of his wounds at the scene. The investigation into the police station shootout is expected to take a few days.
Police said Jones was initially arrested early Friday morning after officers responded to a report of a suspicious person outside his ex-girlfriend's home and he was found in a car outside.
Jones was a civilian communications officer with the Department of Corrections, police said.
The officers involved in the incident were identified as: Sgt. James Garber, a 13-year veteran; Sgt. James Kevin Thyne, an eight-year veteran; and Officer Ruth Burns, a one-year veteran.
Garber was hit once in the bullet-resistant vest and once in the abdomen, just below his vest. He underwent surgery Friday morning but is listed in stable condition.
Thyne and Ruth were both treated and released from the hospital.
Chief Harry Earle praised the actions of the two officers for their "performances of heroic actions."
"I am proud of these officers that saved their fellow officers," Earle said.
Gloucester Township Mayor David Mayer said he's thankful the officers are all expected to make a full recovery, and he also thanked the doctors who treated them at Cooper University Hospital.
Earlier Friday, the mayor issued an audio statement on YouTube.com, telling residents, "All police operations are functioning as normal, and calls for service are not being affected. Certainly, our thoughts and prayers are with the officers and their families at this time. Please only call the Gloucester Township Police Dept. for normal calls for service or emergencies."
