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."

NJ arrests 31 accused child predators in "Operation 24/7"

A roundup of 31 men have been accused of sexually exploiting children online, state Attorney General Gurbir Grewal announced on July 14 while detailing "Operation 24/7."

The suspects “possessed and or distributed videos and images of child sexual abuse, including in many cases videos of young children being raped by adults,” Grewal said.

Chat apps and gaming platforms remain favorite hunting grounds for child predators and even as the pandemic winds down, many children have continued to spend more time online.

State Police received 39% more tips in just the first 6 months of 2021 than they received in the entire year in 2019. The following are suspects charged in "Operation 24/7."

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