Despite early reports insisting that there was no evidence linking the two shooters who engaged in an hours long gun-battle with police in Jersey City yesterday with any existing hate groups, the city's mayor changed his tune Tuesday night. Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop tweeted Tuesday night that authorities have come to the conclusion that the attacks "targeted" the Jewish community, based on their ongoing investigation into the shootout that left three civilians, a detective, and the two suspects dead.
Fulop added that "due to an excess of caution," businesses in that area might notice an increased police presence in the coming days and weeks.
DeBlasio also ordered police to remain on "high alert", even though there were no attacks in NYC. On an otherwise quiet Tuesday, gunshots erupted in the streets. Detective Joseph Seals was killed in the gun battle that kicked off at about 12:30 pm, when police responded to reports of gunfire near the Jewish grocery on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive.
The preliminary investigation suggests Seals, a 39-yearr-old father of five, was killed while trying to interdict "the bad guys" at a cemetery on Garfield Avenue, said Jersey City Police Chief Michael Kelly.
It’s not clear what Fulop meant when he said the store was “targeted,” but Kelly said earlier Tuesday the shooting was not believed to be terror related.
Aside from Seals, three civilians inside the supermarket, along with both suspects, were killed in the shootout.
Poster Comment:
This could develop into a huge event, the biggest since 911.