Gerald Sykes was in stable condition at a hospital in Camden with gunshot wounds.
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The case at present remains under investigation by the NJ Attorney General’s Office.
According to Fox29, the tragic incident ensued after somebody placed a 911 call from a cellphone near Sykes’ home on Centerton Road.
An apparent mistake made by New Jersey State Police as they tried to track down the source of a 911 hangup lead to a brief exchange of gunfire with a homeowner just before 11:30 p.m. Friday night, when officers began knocking on doors at the wrong residence.
Investigators later determined the location of the 911 call was incorrect. Despite the caller hanging up and not giving the location, two uniformed state troopers responded to what they believed to be a pressing emergency.
The Attorney General’s report says the two troopers “approached the home and knocked in an attempt of communicate with the occupants”.
A statement says they identified themselves, but the Lafalces don’t buy it, pointing Sykes has a deep respect for police, and didn’t even know he had been shot by one until he awoke at the hospital.
Upon arriving at the home, troopers shined flashlights at the rear of the home, setting off Sykes’ dogs with the 76 year old pensioner in turn firing a single round from a shotgun thinking he was facing intruders. It didn’t say who fired the first shot.
One was treated for a graze wound from the Sykes’ shotgun or a cut from the glass. “They shot me without even a warning”, said Diana Lafalce. He says one of the troopers then fired several times into the home, and Sykes fired once. Sykes ran back into the house, and only after calling 911 did he come out for medical treatment. Both troopers were taken to Inspira Medical Center in Vineland, and later released.
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The investigation is ongoing, according to the release.
