UPPER DEERFIELD TOWNSHIP, NJ — A home burglary led to a fatal shooting Monday night in Cumberland County, authorities said. During the ensuing investigation, officers found several illegal weapons at the property and charged the resident, according to State Police.
Troopers responded to a reported home burglary in progress at about 7:15 p.m. in Upper Deerfield Township. Kevin Lucero informed police that a person inside his home had been shot.
The troopers attempted lifesaving measures on the wounded person until EMS arrived. He succumbed to his injuries at the scene, said Det. Jeffrey Lebron.
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Police haven’t publicly identified the decedent as of this writing.
“A second individual who was with the gunshot victim had fled the scene before the arrival of the troopers,” Lebron said.
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Authorities executed a court-approved search warrant on the home and vehicles on the property. They seized three handguns, a “large sum” of cash, a butcher knife and a cellphone, Lebron said.
Two of the firearms were ghost guns — illegal weapons that don’t possess serial numbers — authorities said.
Lucero, 24, was charged with possession of prohibited weapons. He was placed in Cumberland County Jail, pending a detention hearing.
The investigation remains active, and police had no additional information on the incident.
State Police local law-enforcement duties for Upper Deerfield Township.
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