BREAKING: Little Egg Cops Shot Township Man After He Came At Them With A Knife

The call from the concerned relative came in at 11:35 a.m. on Tuesday, asking police to check on the well-being of Francis D. Hartnett, who had a history of suicide attempts and was trying to harm himself.

When Little Egg Harbor police and detectives arrived at 510 Wild Oaks Drive in the Royal Timbers complex, no one answered the door. So they entered the apartment, announced their presence and encountered Harnett, who was brandishing a knife, Ocean Count Prosecutor’s Office spokesman Al Della Fave said

“Using verbal commands, officers directed Hartnett to “drop the knife”, as he began to advance towards them,” Della Fave said. ”Multiple officers discharged their department-issued firearms, striking Hartnett multiple times.”

Hartnett was pronounced dead at the scene by Dr. Kosturao of Newark Beth Israel Hospital at 12:36 p.m. via telemetry.

Further investigation revealed that Harnett suffered from depression, and had several previous suicide attempts, Della Fave said.