Police said two adults and two teenagers were killed in a shooting at a Linden home Sunday morning.
Investigators believe that it was a murder-suicide. They believe the husband and father opened fire on his family inside their home on Chatham Place.
The Linden Police Department confirmed the children who were killed in the shooting were teenaged males.
Around 9:30 a.m., officers said they responded to reports of a shooting at 18 Chatham Pl. Upon arrival, they found two adult victims and a teen who were pronounced dead at the scene.
The second teen victim was taken to Newark University Hospital in critical condition and was later pronounced dead, according to authorities.
“There simply are no words to describe the trauma, heartbreak and sorrow that we are all experiencing,” said Mayor Derek Armstead in a statement.
Gov. Phil Murphy released a statement late Sunday afternoon saying that his staff was closely monitoring the shooting.
Neighbors were shocked to hear police sirens blaring on their streets and that something like this could happen in their normally dormant neighborhood.
"My husband and I were getting ready to go to church all of a sudden, we saw police cars and ambulance and they blocked off all sides so we couldn't get out... we knew something was wrong," said neighbor Karin Thompson.
"I would have never thought in 100 years. I'm very shocked that this happened," said neighbor Omar Catalbas.
Several of the neighbors described the woman who lived at 18 Chatham Pl. as friendly and someone who always said "hello" while walking the dog. They described the man as quiet but helpful.
"Sometimes he would help us with shoveling the snow because they were young people and we're old people," Digna Alvarez said.
The community gathered outside the home Sunday night to light candles. Parents consoled their children as they grieved the loss of friends and classmates