NJ Man Shot Wife, 2 Children Before Killing Himself: Prosecutor

Editor's note: This story has been updated to fix a typo.

LINDEN, NJ — Officials say a man shot his wife and two children before killing himself inside their Linden home on Sunday morning.

The shooting was reported on Chatham Place at around 9:30 a.m., Linden police said in a statement. Two adults and a juvenile victim were pronounced dead at the scene; a second juvenile victim was taken to Newark University Hospital in critical condition, police said.

The Union County Prosecutor's Office said 41-year-old Kryzstof Nieroda shot his wife Justyna (41) and his children Sebastian (14) and Natalia (13) early that morning.

Officials said Sebastian was in critical condition when first responders arrived, and that he died at Newark University Hospital.

Kryzstof Nieroda told a family member on the telephone that he had shot and killed his wife and children before he turned the gun on himself, said Union County Prosecutor William A. Daniel and Linden Police Chief David Hart in a news release.

Authorities found the weapon in his hand when they arrived, said officials.

“In tragedies of this magnitude, there are no words that can heal, nor explanations that can serve to make sense of them to the public," Daniel said. "Our thoughts go out to the family and friends of these victims and to the Linden community as a whole in the wake of this horrible event.”

Hart said it was difficult to describe how a tragedy like this impacts the community — particularly the families, first responders, and children.

"We are not alone in our grief; each of us has a shared responsibility to be there for our loved ones as we mourn the loss of our friends and neighbors," Hart said. "If you or someone you know may be suffering, please don't hesitate to ask for help before a crisis occurs."

Linden's mayor Derek Armstead urged residents to seek help if they are having thoughts of harming themselves.

“There simply are no words to describe the trauma, heartbreak and sorrow that we are all experiencing,” Armstead said Sunday night. “If you know someone suffering from suicidal thoughts, please say something.”

Gov. Phil Murphy took to social media Sunday afternoon to express his condolences to the community.

“This is an ongoing investigation with many questions to be answered,” Murphy said. “Linden is a strong community and we will support them however possible as they mourn and recover.”

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, there are resources available to help. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 24 hours a day by calling 988. Its website offers services including a live chat.