Violence erupts in Pemberton — cop kills scythe-wielding man, officials say

PEMBERTON TOWNSHIP — It was a violent and deadly Friday night on a township block, with a cop fatally shooting a man involved in a fight while another man was shot in a separate altercation — all within minutes of each other.

Details about the shootings have been limited.

Shortly after 9 p.m., police were dispatched to Kinsley Road on a report of a shooting. Police learned that a 20-year-old man had been shot in the abdomen and was taken by a friend to a hospital. The man remained at Capital Health Regional Medical Center in Trenton in stable condition on Saturday afternoon, Burlington County prosecutors said.

At about 9:05 p.m., police responded to 183 Kinsley Road on a report of a fight. Police encountered 41-year-old resident Witney Rivera armed with a long scythe, the state Attorney General’s Office said. During the encounter, an officer opened fire and wounded Rivera, who was pronounced dead about an hour later at Virtua Memorial Hospital in Mt. Holly.

The state is investigating the shooting by the officer as a matter of routine. A law enacted in January requires the Attorney General’s Office to investigate all deaths involving encounters with police.

Authorities have not indicated that the shootings were related. No arrests have been announced.

Law enforcement officials normally do not identify police officers involved in shootings. The Attorney General’s Office only identified the cop as a Pemberton Borough officer.