3rd shot N.J. cop out of hospital

THE LAST OF three police officers shot and wounded inside a southern New Jersey police station by a man in custody has left the hospital.

Gloucester Township Sgt. James Garber, who underwent surgery for a gunshot wound to his abdomen, returned home Sunday afternoon. His two colleagues, Officer Ruth Burns and Sgt. Kevin Thine, had both been released on Friday, the day of the shooting inside the Gloucester Township police station.

The gunfire erupted when Eddie Jones III overpowered and disarmed Burns after his handcuffs were briefly removed during processing. He lunged at the officer, knocking her down and grabbing her weapon, said police Chief Harry Earle.

He then "unleashed a barrage of gunfire" at the officers, Earle said.

Garber and Thine returned fire. Jones, of Willingsboro, was struck multiple times and was pronounced dead at the scene. The 39-year-old civilian, employee at the state Department of Corrections, had been arrested on charges of stalking a former girlfriend, police said.

Garber was shot multiple times - his life was saved by a bullet resistant vest. He also suffered a graze wound to his head. Thine suffered a cut to his abdomen and a graze wound to his chin, while Burns was shot in the foot.

The shooting will be reviewed by the state attorney general, as is customary with all shootings involving police officers. But Camden County prosecutor Warren Faulk said initial evidence shows that the officers responded to gunfire that was initiated by Jones and returned fire to save their lives and those of other officers in the building.