Ewing Police File Photo

Ewing Police File Photo

(Keith Brown/The Times)

EWING -- A New York City man was in stable condition at an area hospital after wresting a handgun from a Ewing man late Monday night and shooting himself in the face after an unsuccessful attempt to slit his own throat with a spatula and knifing himself in the stomach, police said.

Dwayne Jackson, 48, was visiting a girlfriend at a home Arden Avenue around 11:30 p.m. when he began acting strangely, Captain Rocco Maruca said.

Jackson ran out of the home and a short time later began knocking at the door of a home on the 200 block of Ewingville Road. A 72-year-old woman answered the door, Maruca said.

Jackson asked to use her phone. She refused. Jackson asked how to get to Trenton. She told him and tried to close the door. Jackson blocked it and forced himself into the house, Maruca said.

Jackson entered the woman’s kitchen, went through the drawers and pulled out a cake spatula and tried to slit his throat. When that didn’t work, he found a butcher’s knife and stabbed himself in the stomach, Maruca said.

A 76-year-old man then came out of his bedroom with a loaded .357 handgun. Jackson lunged at the man, Maruca said.

The two struggled. The homeowner fired two rounds, but did not hit Jackson, who was able to wrestle the gun away. Jackson then put the gun to his chin and fired. The homeowners were uninjured, Maruca said.

Police found Jackson lying face down inside the home. He was taken to Capital Health Regional Medical Center in Trenton by Ewing EMS, Maruca said.

Anyone with information about the incident is encouraged to call Detective Pat Holt at 609-882-1313, ext. 5571, or the Ewing Police Tip Line at 609-882-7530.

Keith Brown may be reached at kbrown@njtimes.com. Follow him on Twitter @KBrownTrenton. Find The Times of Trenton on Facebook.