3 dead in Warren Township murder-suicide

UPDATE: Aug. 17 – The shooter, John Reno, fired an assault rifle at cops as soon as they arrived at the home Sunday afternoon. Reno may have killed himself within 10 minutes of the six-hour incident.

UPDATE: Aug. 17 – The victims were identified as Heidi Errickson and her brother, Fred. Heidi Errickson was described as a sweet woman who was self-sufficient despite an accident years ago that left her physically challenged.

UPDATE: Aug. 17 – The reported shooter, John Reno, had been arrested at least twice in Pennsylvannia, including on charges that he led cops on a five-mile chase up Route 22.

EARLIER: Aug. 16

WARREN – The Mount Horeb Road home where a man shot and killed two people before committing suicide remained an active crime scene Sunday night.

Capt. Jack Bennett, director of communications at the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office said at 8 p.m. that "the suspect died of an apparent self inflicted gunshot wound" after killing the unidentified man and woman early Sunday afternoon. The shooter was also not identified.

Earlier reports said one person was dead in the driveway at the home, while the other victim had been shot inside.

"This is an active and ongoing investigation," Bennett said. "No additional information is available at this time."

At 7:11 p.m., Bennett said that the "SWAT and law enforcement activities have been terminated."

"There is no threat to the community," he added.

The county crime scene vehicle was en route to the scene, while medics and county coordinators were clearing. At 7:40 p.m., it was reported that the police department said the area had been secured.

UPDATE: Residents were permitted to return to their homes at 8 p.m., Bennett said. Mount Bethel Road will re-open but Mount Horeb between Mount Bethel and King George remained closed due to the active crime scene investigation.

Early in the afternoon, a police monitoring service reported an active shooter had barricaded himself in a home at 232 Mount Horeb Road. State Police Sgt. 1st Class Gregory Williams said he can confirm an ongoing incident in the township, but the state police had not been called in for assistance.

"The local and county departments are covering the scene," Williams said.

According to the service, a man, identified as "John Reno," who was formerly "incarcerated" has shot a brother and sister, with one person reported dead. It is not known of the relation between the shooter and the siblings. The person reported dead is in the driveway of the home.

Another person may have been shot inside the home. Law enforcement has not confirmed the details of the incident, as of 10 p.m. Sunday.

A resident of the township for 42 years, Christine Reo heard what she later learned were gunshots at around 12:55 p.m. Reo, who lives catty-corner to the home where the shooting took place described what she heard as "a series of very loud pops and bangs."

"I heard them in my bedroom. The window was open," she said. "I wasn't sure that it was gunshots. There was a quick quiet and then three more sounds. I didn't know any more about it because my girlfriend picked me up at 1:15 and we were able to leave without any problem."

Reo said she didn't see any police as she left the area. The first reports from the online service started coming in at 1:40 p.m. At around 6:30 p.m., it was reported that all personnel were to "stand down" though the status of the shooter remained unknown.

"So I guess it just happened and the police didn't know about it yet," she said. "We came down Mount Bethel Road to Morning Glory Road and we didn't see any police cars yet. I'm pretty scared because for all I know my house is empty and he could be in there."

Police barricaded roads in the area and set up two command centers; one at Central School at 109 Mount Bethel Road and the other at the A&P at 177 Washington Valley Road. Midday, the SWAT team requested a ladder truck from the local fire department in order to get on top of a three-story building on Mount Bethel Road.

The shooter may be using a "bolt action rifle," according to the online service.

Additionally, the online service said the police department reported that the shooter has said "he is not going back" and will take out as many officers as possible.

Police have reported hearing numerous shots since the incident started a short time after 1 p.m. The SWAT team was called in and a perimeter has been established around the home. The house at 232 Mount Horeb Road is set back from the street, not far from Warren Auto Wreckers.

Local residents Ed Mead and his wife were in the parking lot of a strip mall on Mount Bethel Road waiting to go back home. After a visit with Mead's mother, the couple planned to head home to spend a quiet Sunday afternoon. Police had cordoned off the area leading to the Mead home.

"Then, we find the road is blocked off," he said. "Our dogs are still locked in the home, so we became concerned if it was a gas leak or a chemical leak of some sort. The police said 'No, they are safe. It's not that.' But, we were told it's a dangerous situation.

"Then, talking to reporters we come to find it is a shooting situation. Police are not letting us back in, but we understand they have a job that has to be done and we respect their decisions and wait it out.

It's not something you would expect in Warren Township," Mead added. "But, more and more, we are seeing this on the news constantly. Maybe we are getting a little jaded to this type of situation. I'm not worried right now. I don't like it in this town or any town, but it's already unfolded so at this point I guess we just have to cope with it and let the police do their job and hope to get things back to normal as fast as we can."

Peter Fisher was about a mile from his home after food shopping when he was stopped by the police blockade. He lives about a half-mile from the scene of the shooting.

"I didn't hear any police sirens. I didn't hear any shootings," he said. "I thought it was a car accident when I saw the blinking lights. But, then I saw the cops crouched down behind their cars with assault weapons."

Staff Writer Cheryl Makin: 732-565-7156; cmakin@mycentraljersey.com

Staff Writer Everett Merrill: 908-243-6606; emerrill@mycentraljersey.com