A man in Kearny, New Jersey, was found dead Saturday evening with an arrow in his back. The suspect barricaded himself in a nearby house, set the home on fire and engaged in an hourslong standoff with Hudson County SWAT into the early morning. Neighbors were evacuated or told to shelter in place, and more than 12 hours after the attack the suspect surrendered Sunday afternoon; prosecutors expect charges Monday. The Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office is continuing its investigation.
Fatal Bow-and-Arrow Killing Triggers Hourslong SWAT Standoff After House Is Set Ablaze
Members of the Hudson County Regional SWAT team work at the scene where a suspect reportedly killed a man using a bow and arrow and barricaded himself in a home in Kearny, New Jersey, on December 21. - Kyle Mazza/NurPhoto/Shutterstock
A man suspected of fatally wounding another person with a bow and arrow in Kearny, New Jersey, was arrested Sunday after an hourslong standoff in which he barricaded himself inside a house and set it on fire, local authorities and news outlets reported.
What Happened
The incident began Saturday evening at about 7 p.m., when a man was found collapsed with an arrow lodged in his back in Kearny, a suburb of Newark. The victim — who has not been identified — was pronounced dead at the scene, the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office said.
Standoff And Fire
Investigators say the suspect, also not publicly identified, barricaded himself inside a nearby home. Hudson County SWAT units surrounded the property and spent hours negotiating the man’s surrender as sirens and police commands echoed through the neighborhood. Around 5 a.m. Sunday, neighbors reported seeing the house on fire as firefighters arrived and worked to contain the blaze.
Smoke billows from a home where a suspect reportedly barricaded himself after allegedly killing a man with a bow and arrow in Kearny, New Jersey, on December 21. - Kyle Mazza/NurPhoto/Shutterstock
“I heard the guy yelling out, ‘I can’t come out!’ or ‘I can’t do that!’ and then they were like ‘Come out. We’re here to help you,’” witness Rebecca Szymanski told local media.
Some residents were told to shelter in place while others were evacuated and taken to a nearby church for safety. One evacuated neighbor described a large emergency response, including fire engines, police and SWAT vehicles.
Arrest And Investigation
More than 12 hours after the initial attack, the man surrendered Sunday afternoon and was taken into custody. Authorities said he was carrying knives when he exited the home. The Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office said it is continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the killing and expects to file charges Monday.
Local news outlets WABC and WCBS reported details of the standoff, and CNN has contacted Kearny police, the Kearny Fire Department and the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office for comment.
