At least one person is dead and a number of others are injured after a mass shooting at a Chick-fil-A in Union Township, New Jersey, late Saturday night, according to preliminary reports.
Authorities say gunfire erupted around 8:40 p.m. inside or near the crowded fast-food restaurant along Route 22, sending patrons scrambling for safety. Early accounts indicate that at least six people were shot, with one victim pronounced dead at the scene. The conditions of the injured victims have not been fully disclosed, though several were transported to nearby hospitals.
Witnesses described a chaotic and fast-moving scene. A father waiting outside the restaurant told ABC7 New York his son, an employee, reported that multiple masked individuals entered the establishment and opened fire, wounding several workers. “It was a war zone,” he said.
“I got an unconscious witness. I’ve got one shot in the face … and I have at least two in the leg,” a 911 dispatcher says in audio obtained by CBS News New York. Another witness, a ride-share driver, said he heard at least seven gunshots while completing a trip nearby. “I heard the shots very close,” he said, describing a heavy police presence arriving within minutes.
The New York Post reported the suspects forced their way behind the counter before firing, suggesting employees may have been specifically targeted, though authorities have not confirmed that detail. Video circulating from the scene appears to show at least one masked individual fleeing the area shortly after the shooting. Law enforcement has not confirmed the number of suspects involved, and no arrests have been made as of Sunday.
Employees were locked inside the restaurant for hours following the shooting as police secured the scene and searched for suspects. Family members gathered outside the building late into the night, waiting for updates as officers moved in and out of the restaurant.
Authorities from multiple jurisdictions responded to the scene, shutting down the surrounding parking lot and portions of Route 22 as emergency crews worked to treat victims and clear the area. The scale of the response underscored the uncertainty investigators are still facing as they work to determine how many shooters were involved and whether the attack was targeted or random.
The Union County Prosecutor’s Office has confirmed that an “active and ongoing investigation” is underway, but officials have not released information regarding a motive.
New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill said she had been briefed on the shooting and that her administration is in contact with law enforcement officials on the ground. “My thoughts are with those who were injured in the shooting, and with their families,” Sherrill said in a statement.
Union Township, a suburban community of roughly 60,000 residents located about 15 miles west of New York City, remained on edge as the investigation stretched into Sunday. The Chick-fil-A remained an active crime scene late into the night as multiple law enforcement agencies worked to piece together what led to the attack.
Authorities say more information, including potential suspect descriptions and a clearer timeline of events, will be released as the investigation develops.
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