Man shot and killed by police during standoff in Ventnor, N.J. identified
VENTNOR, N.J. (WPVI) -- State officials say a standoff in Ventnor that began as a domestic dispute ended when police shot and killed a man armed with a pistol.
Police say 49-year-old John Fetter had threatened his father with a shotgun.
Police heard gunshots when they arrived at the home near the intersection of Burghley Avenue and Dorset before 7 p.m. Monday.
Officers safely removed Fetter's parents, but shots were fired from the home when the Atlantic County SWAT team arrived.
Efforts to get him to surrender failed.
Little more than an hour after the standoff began, authorities say Fetter emerged from the home and pointed a handgun at a member of the SWAT team.
Authorities say a single shot was heard and then the SWAT team opened fire.
An Action News viewer captured the violent exchange of gunfire on video.
Fetter was later pronounced dead at the scene.
It all left neighbors unnerved.
"Sounded like shotgun blasts," said George Termini. "The fire engine was over there. We were over by the corner and the police officer says, 'Come by the fire department, (the) fire engines.'"
"Sounded like fireworks," said Maria Mastrando. "And we opened the door and came in. And then I heard them again. I said, 'They're not fireworks, they're gunshots!' And we ran out of the house. We saw the cops here.... I got scared, really did. It was scary."
The state attorney general's office is investigating the case.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
