Authorities Probe NJ Standoff That Ended With Gunman, Hostages Dead

Investigators continue to probe a standoff at a northern New Jersey home Sunday that unfolded after a gunman allegedly shot his fiancee and her brother to death.

It is believed that the suspected shooter got into an argument with his fiancee at their home and shot and killed her, police said. He then allegedly gunned down the woman's brother as he arrived at the home to check on her. This led to a standoff with police that ended with the suspect dead.

Around 1:21 p.m. Sunday, officers went to check on John Reno, 48, at 232 Mt. Horeb Road in Warren Township. A family member had apparently called police asking for a welfare check of Reno.

When officers arrived at the home they found a man's body lying in the driveway. He was later identified as Frederick Errickson, 55. Police say Reno then began firing an assault rifle at the responding officers from a first floor window of the home. The officers radioed for backup and asked that SWAT be deployed to the scene.

Because of the type of weapon and ammunition Reno allegedly had, it was determined that he posed a threat to officers. After a negotiations team failed to communicate with the suspect, SWAT members set up a large perimeter around the house and sent in a remote-controlled robot to search the area, police said.

Once inside the home, cameras attached to the robot captured images of a dead woman lying in a first floor hallway, according to police. The woman was later identified as Reno's fiancee, 45-year-old Heidi Errickson. Police said Monday that an investigation revealed that Reno shot and killed her while the two were arguing. Frederick Errickson went to check on his sister at the home and was shot and killed in the driveway by Reno, police said.

SWAT eventually entered the home and discovered that Reno was no longer inside, police said. They searched the area and found Reno lying in a drainage ditch in a wooded area behind the home. He had a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, police said. Lying next to him was an assault rifle and two high-capacity magazines. A final gunshot was heard at 1:33 p.m., which may have been Reno comitting suicide, police said.

No officers were injured in the standoff, according to police.

Authorities say Reno may have had a history of mental health issues. An investigation is ongoing and an autopsy of Reno and the two victims will be conducted by the Northern Regional Medical Examiner's Office in Newark.

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