A man and a woman are dead in a mass shooting at a party in Cumberland County, State Police have confirmed.
A dozen people were wounded in the shooting at a home on East Commerce Street in Fairfield Township.
The house party attracted hundreds, according to a statement from Gov. Phil Murphy.
“We hold those who have died, and their families, in our prayers today, and we also pray for the recoveries of those injured," Murphy said. "We are grateful for the swift response of law enforcement and stand with them as they continue their investigation."
Troopers from the State Police Bridgeton Station were called to the home at 11:50 p.m., and found 14 people shot.
A 30-year-old man and 25-year-old woman died. Their names and hometowns have not yet been released.
Another victim is in critical condition.
No arrests have been made.
A press conference is set for 10 a.m. Monday at the Cumberland County Prosecutor's Office. Murphy is expected to be in attendance.
“Let there be no mistake: This despicable and cowardly act of gun violence only steels our commitment to ensuring New Jersey leads the nation in passing and enforcing strong and common-sense gun safety laws," the governor said in a statement Sunday. "No community should ever experience what occurred last night in Fairfield."
Melissa Helmbrecht, who works for Hopeloft, a Bridgeton advocacy group for at-risk young people, told NBC-10 that several youths in the group were at the party at the time of the shooting.
“It was hundreds of people, our neighbors, who were just getting together because it was the first really warm, nice night," she said. "There were a lot of parties and get-togethers throughout the community, and this was probably the biggest."
Anyone with information is asked to contact the New Jersey State Police Bridgeton Station at 856-451-0101 or submit a tip via the Cumberland County Prosecutor’s Office tip website at www.njccpo.org/tips. Anonymous tips are welcome.
