Community Corner
Gunshots, Police Standoff Shock Roseland Neighborhood
'This is extremely out of the ordinary here,' a neighbor said of hours-long standoff and gunfire exchange between police and barricaded man.
Gunfire and an hours-long police standoff shocked a quiet Roseland neighborhood Wednesday night when an ex-boyfriend broke into a woman's house.
Anthony Vocaturo, 51, surrendered to police at 3 a.m. after hours of negotiations and being wounded by police gunfire earlier in the night, according to NJ.com.
About half-dozen Essex County Prosecutor's Office vehicles and authorities were still at the home Thursday morning. The home is one of many large, connected two-story townhouses with stone facades and well manicured lawns in the secluded development community.
One resident, who declined to provide his full name, said he heard three gun shots Wednesday night and he saw SWAT teams.
"The guys were dressed like on TV," the man said.
Yellow police tape was strung up at the intersection of Schweinberg Drive and Artho Lane Thursday, and tape was also wrapped around the garage of the home where a silver Lexus SUV was parked.
Authorities were seen using metal detectors in the rear yard of the home and questioning neighbors during the morning hours.
A woman, who also declined to be identified, said police evacuated her 16-year-old daughter from their home late last night on nearby Artho Lane.
Every townhouse within 200 yards of the house was evacuated, according to NJ.com. Those who were evacuated gathered in the local community center in the townhouse complex.
Neighbors said the police presence late Wednesday night was a rare occurrence on Schweinberg Drive, where the community is close-knit and everyone knows one another.
"It's a very, very quiet neighborhood," one resident said. "This is extremely out of the ordinary here."
A woman living on Schweinberg Drive called police at 9:52 p.m. to report an intruder was threatening her life, according to NJ.com. When police arrived at the townhouse, officers found it locked up and screams coming from inside, according to the article.
When officers tried to enter the townhouse, shots were fired from inside at the officers. During the gunfire, the woman and her teen-aged son escaped from the home, according to the article.
After three hours of negotiations, Vocaturo surrendered to police at 3:01 a.m., the article said.
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