The son of former NYPD Commissioner Bernard Kerik helped shoot dead two detective-killing gunmen who yesterday slaughtered three inside a Jersey City kosher store.

Joseph Kerik, of Newark Police Department, was among officers who smashed through the storefront in an armored car following a two-hour shootout during which hundreds of rounds were exchanged.

Detective Kerik and two other officers jumped from the vehicle and into the shop where they shot the suspects dead, sources revealed.

Bernard Kerik, who is known as Bernie, tweeted: 'At Jersey City Medical Center with my son Joe... he's okay by Prayers for the Jersey City Police and their fallen officer.'

Joseph Kerik (right, with his father Bernie the Newark Police Department, was among officers who smashed through the store front in an armored car following a two-hour shootout.

He later told the New York Post he was 'very proud' of his son and the two other officers who killed the gunmen.

Detective Kerik and two other officers jumped from the vehicle and into the shop where they shot the suspects dead, sources revealed

He also paid tribute to Joseph Seals, the 39-year-old detective who was shot in a cemetery by the gunmen before they sped to the Jewish supermarket.

The former Commissioner wrote: 'This evening I spoke to dozens of Jersey City Police Officers and community leaders at the hospital and one thing was clear, Police Officer Seals was a great cop, and great father.

'Det. Joseph Seals was one of New Jersey best cops who took countless guns off the street, cared about his city, and loved his family and five children. His death is our country's loss.'

The chaos began shortly before 12.30pm, when Det. Seals was shot dead by the two suspects at the Bay View Cemetery, which is a Protestant Christian burial ground.

Seals, a member of the CeaseFire Unit dedicated to de-escalating gun violence, encountered the suspects while on an investigation.

The two suspects are believed to be linked to the Saturday death of Michael Rumberger, 34.

There have been multiple reports that Seals was investigating Rumberger's death when he was killed, however police have not officially confirmed this.

Sources say that Seals spotted a stolen U-Haul van that police suspected was linked to Rumberger's murder, and approached the vehicle near the cemetery, WNBC-TV reported.

Bernard Kerik tweeted: 'At Jersey City Medical Center with my son Joe... he's okay by Prayers for the Jersey City Police and their fallen officer.'

Newark Police Officer Joseph Kerik (left), the son of former NYPD Commissioner Bernard Kerik (with him right) was one of the SWAT officers who stormed the market in an armored vehicle and shot the two desperate criminals dead

As Seals approached, a suspect got out of the van to shoot the officer before speeding off. Police immediately pursued.

The suspects apparently drove in the stolen U-Haul directly to the JC Kosher Supermarket, about a mile away.

Shots were reported in the area at around 12.30pm, as the two suspects clad in all-black stormed the store.

Wielding high-powered rifles they went on to fire hundreds of rounds over the next few hours before Kerik and his colleagues stormed the store at around 3pm.

Joseph Kerik, left, is pictured with his fellow officers in ceremonial winter uniform after a church service

The officers shot dead the gunmen who had killed three civilians inside the store, including the owner's wife.

Two of the victims have been named as Leah Mindel Ferencz, 33, married to the JC Kosher Supermarket's owner and Moshe Hirsch Deutsch, 24, from Brooklyn.

Bernard Kerik ran the NYPD under Mayor Rudi Giuliani during the late 1990s and into the early 2000s.

He was jailed for felony tax fraud in 2010.