Bridgeton, N.J. — Detectives from the Bridgeton Police Dept. and the Cumberland County Prosecutor’s Office are continuing the investigation this morning into the fatal shooting of a nine-year-old Church St. juvenile who was apparently struck by stray gunfire while in her residence.
Chief of Police Michael A. Gaimari Sr. said this morning that officers were called to the area of Elmer St. on reports of shots being fired at approximately 12:30 this morning.
According to reports, upon arrival at Church and Elmer Sts., officers found the family of the juvenile transporting her to Inspira Hospital in Bridgeton where she was pronounced deceased a short time after arriving there. Officers were able to locate another crime scene approximately one block away near the intersection of Elmer and Walnut Sts.
Gaimari said initial investigation indicates that an unknown subject or subjects fired several shots from the vicinity of Elmer and Walnut Sts. east on Elmer striking several vehicles and ultimately entering the victim’s home through a rear wall striking the young victim who was in the room adjacent to the wall struck. Police did not release the name of the victim at this time.
Detectives and officers have interviewed dozens of individuals and were continuing with a canvass of the area this morning. Anyone with information is urged to contact Bridgeton Police at 451-0033 or utilize the department’s TIP411 anonymous TEXT line subtitle, “BRIDGETON.”
“We need the public’s help in general, but when an incident such as this happens to such a young and innocent victim we could really use the assistance in bringing those responsible to justice immediately,” Gaimari said. He added that police presence in the area will increase in an effort to curb the tensions there and develop information on the shooting.
