Barricaded Man Charged After Stand-off With Cops in Salem County, NJ

A tense situation in Salem that involved an armed barricaded man that lasted for several hours Monday night ended with no injuries and the suspect facing a list of charges.

Chief John Pelura III of the Salem City Police Department says his officers were called to Davis Avenue in the city at around 8:30 PM Monday for the report of a person who may have been the target of a threat.

At the scene, cops say they found Lavel Billip in the doorway of his home with a gun, which he is prohibited from having. As officers were trying to speak to Billip, he reportedly fled inside the house and barricaded himself.

Pelura says, "Simultaneously, 9-1-1 received a call from a victim who related that Billip pointed a gun and made threats to two people in front of his home on Davis. The victims fled the area before calling 9-1-1."

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Troopers with the New Jersey State Police were called to the scene and after several hours, Billip surrendered just before midnight.

Billip has been charged with two counts of aggravated assault, two counts of terroristic threats, possession of a weapon for unlawful purpose, unlawful possession of a weapon, and possession of a weapon by a prohibited person. He was lodged in the Salem County Jail.

Pelura went on to say, "With such a large number of resources, we were pressed to find a location close to the scene where everyone could stage. Mt. Zion Church Parking Lot was utilized and I'd like to thank Pastor Awood Jones and his congregation for suffering the incursion and apologize for not leaving the church property as clean as we found it."