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MIDDLE
TOWNSHIP - The Attorney General’s
Shooting Response Team is conducting an
investigation into the circumstances surrounding
a shooting yesterday in which members of
the Cape May County Regional SWAT Team fatally
shot a man who allegedly threatened them
with firearms following a standoff at his
home in Middle Township.
According
to the preliminary investigation, Douglas
J. Wnek, 37, was fatally shot by members
of the SWAT team outside his residence at
19 Williams Street in Middle Township at
about 6:53 p.m. yesterday (Oct. 3). The
Middle Township Police Department responded
to the house on a report of a suicidal male.
Wnek’s wife had called 911 and reported
that her husband was armed and awaiting
police response. She was not at the house
at the time. Upon arrival, officers observed
an empty rifle case within the residence
and heard a subject in the rear of the residence.
The officers secured a perimeter around
the property and notified the Cape May County
Regional SWAT Team for assistance. The Cape
May County Regional Swat Team and Cape May
County Hostage Negotiators responded to
the scene. Communication was established
with Wnek and officers attempted to negotiate
a peaceful surrender. Shortly before 7 p.m.,
Wnek allegedly made several threatening
statements and announced that he was exiting
the house. Wnek allegedly exited through
the front door carrying two rifles in his
hands and a shotgun slung over his shoulder.
He allegedly advanced on the surrounding
officers and failed to comply with commands.
Several members of the Cape May County Regional
SWAT Team subsequently discharged their
firearms, fatally wounding Wnek. He was
transported to the Cape May Regional Medical
Center, where he was pronounced dead.
No
further details of the shooting will be
released at this time because of the ongoing
investigation.
The
shooting is being investigated by the Attorney
General’s Shooting Response Team.
Under an Attorney General Directive, the
Shooting Response Team, made up of deputy
attorneys general, detectives of the Division
of Criminal Justice and detectives of the
New Jersey State Police Major Crime Unit,
are dispatched to the scene to handle investigations
of shootings involving state law enforcement
officers or county SWAT teams. The scene
was processed by the State Police Crime
Scene Investigation South Unit. The Southern
Regional Medical Examiner’s Office
is performing an autopsy.
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