Former police officer killed in NJ house explosion, son injured: officials
SOUTH RIVER, New Jersey (PIX11) – A former police officer was killed and his son was injured in an explosion at a South River home on Thursday, according to authorities.
Neighbors told PIX11 News they came running out of their homes as soon as they heard the explosion on Continental Court just after 7 p.m. Kevin Gilbert, a 62-year-old retired Newark police officer, was found dead in the debris, officials said.
A neighbor said the boom was so loud, the sound shook their garage and rattled picture frames on the wall. The explosion is believed to have happened at a moment’s notice, according to officials.
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Gilbert’s son is still hospitalized as of Friday morning.
Officials told PIX11 News they believe it was a natural gas explosion, but the state fire marshal is also investigating to make the final call.
Erin Pflaumer is a digital content producer from Long Island who has covered both local and national news since 2018. She joined PIX11 in 2023. See more of her work here.
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