Six Killed in Gunbattle Outside Jersey City Kosher Supermarket

A kosher supermarket that was the scene of a shootout which killed six people in Jersey City on Tuesday afternoon may have been the intended target of the gunmen, according to Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop.

“Based on our initial investigation (which is ongoing) we now believe the active shooters targeted the location they attacked,’' he wrote on Twitter.

Fulop added that although there are no indications of further threats, “due to an excess of caution the community may see additional police resources in the days/weeks ahead.”

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DRAMATIC FOOTAGE FROM JERSEY CITY pic.twitter.com/AoVYsZm3iD

— Satmar550 (@Satmar550) December 10, 2019

The revelation comes despite earlier statements that the incident did not appear to be a hate crime or motivated by terrorism.

Six people, including a police officer and three bystanders, died in the shootout at the JC kosher supermarket, Chief of Jersey City Police Mike Kelly confirmed in a press conference.

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Jersey City Active Shooting:
– Up to 2 police officers shot
– Reports of at least one civilian shot
– Shooting happened on the block of a kosher supermarket and a synagogue
Video with sounds of gunfire at the scene: pic.twitter.com/fxkdJiNY8z

— PM Breaking News (@PMBreakingNews) December 10, 2019

The officer who died was identified as Joe Seals, a married father of five who had been with the Jersey City force since 2006, Fulop told reporters. Kelly said Seals was in his 40s.

Three Jews were killed inside the store, a member of the local Jewish emergency medical services Hatzolah, Mordechai Rubin, confirmed to Haaretz.