NJ man charged after shooting at cops on Christmas
A New Jersey man has been charged with attempted murder after shooting at law enforcement officers as they responded to a domestic violence incident on Christmas night, police said.
Officers with the Hamilton Township Police Department responded to a residence in the 500 block of North Street in Mays Landing on Thursday after a woman reported that her husband, identified as Stephen Ponfi, 69, was armed with a knife and a gun.
She said he had already fired several shots, but added that no one was injured in the shooting, according to a police news release issued Friday.
When officers arrived on scene shortly after 9:15 p.m., they “established a perimeter and attempted to make contact with Pofi,” officers said. “He refused to obey instructions and fired his handgun again, this time in the direction of law enforcement.”
No officers were injured in the shooting, and it is unclear whether they returned fire.
Ponfi was eventually taken into custody without further incident, police said. He was being held at the Atlantic County Judicial Center in Mays Landing Saturday afternoon.
Few other details regarding the case were provided.
In addition to the attempted murder charge, Ponfi faces one count of possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, aggravated assault with a firearm, obstruction, harassment and resisting arrest.
