PISCATAWAY, New Jersey — Body-worn camera footage shows the moment law enforcement officers shot a man wielding a knife after he murdered his mother and grandparents inside the family home.
The suspect was identified as 29-year-old Jordan Barnes. Police opened fire when Barnes lunged at them with a knife in hand at the two-story home in Piscataway.
Panic 911 Calls
Along with the video, authorities also released 911 calls capturing the chaos before police arrived at the scene.
Barnes’ father said in the emergency call:
“Please… please. He said he’s going to kill all of us. He’s out of control. Please help.”
He also mentioned that his son had no history of violence and only had access to kitchen knives.
Police Confront the Suspect
When police arrived, they saw two victims lying motionless inside the house through the front door.
One officer says in the released video:
“We gotta go in, we got victims.”
When the door was opened, Barnes immediately shouted at the police, telling them to leave while approaching with the knife.
Police repeatedly ordered the suspect to get down and drop the weapon, and used a taser to subdue him, but Barnes continued to advance.
Shortly after, police opened fire.
Three Victims Killed
Three of Barnes' relatives were found dead inside the home with multiple stab wounds in the stabbing attack:
Jeanmarie Barnes, 60 (mother)
Richard Barnes, 86 (grandfather)
Brenda Barnes, 84 (grandmother)
Another 911 call came from the mother’s phone, in which someone can be heard screaming “stop” amidst chaotic sounds inside the house.
Investigation Ongoing
After the shooting, an officer rushed into the house to check on the victims, but they were unresponsive.
The New Jersey Attorney General’s Office stated that the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability is conducting an investigation into the incident in New Jersey involving police, following standard procedure.
