LINDEN, N.J. – A tragic shooting at a Linden home on Sunday morning left four people dead, including two teenagers, police said.

According to Linden police Capt. Christopher Guenther, officers responded to a call for a shooting on Chatham Place, a residential area, around 9:30 a.m. and found two adults and a juvenile deceased at the scene. A second juvenile was transported to Newark University Hospital in critical condition but later succumbed to his injuries.

Police believe that the shooter was among the deceased and that there is no threat to public safety. The identities of the victims have not been released pending notification of family members.

The motive for the shooting remains under investigation by the Union County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide Task Force and Linden Police Department.

Neighbors said they were shocked and saddened by the incident, which occurred in a quiet and friendly community.

“I heard some screaming this morning but I didn’t think anything of it,” said Digna Alvarez, who lives across the street from where the shooting took place. “Then I saw all these police cars and ambulances. It’s horrible.”

Alvarez said she knew the family who lived in the house and that they had two children, a boy and a girl, who attended school with her son.

“They were very nice people,” she said. “The kids were always playing outside or riding their bikes. They seemed happy.”

Another neighbor, who did not want to give his name, said he heard gunshots around 9:15 a.m. but thought they were fireworks.

“I didn’t realize what was going on until I saw all the commotion,” he said. “It’s very sad and scary. You never expect something like this to happen in your neighborhood.”

Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Prosecutor’s Office Detective Richard Acosta at 908-347-0404 or Detective Michael Burnette at 908-451-7709.nj-chatham-place-home/69920625007/ Accessed 2/20/2023.