Shots fired at walker on NJ canal trail leads to 16 hour standoff

LAWRENCE TOWNSHIP (Mercer) — Shots fired at someone walking the Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park Trail along Route 1 ended with a barricade and an arrest Wednesday night.

Lawrence police said the incident started near the footbridge over Route 1 in Lawrence Township around 9 a.m. when a man reported shots fired. Responding police heard gunfire coming from a wooded area separated from the highway by the canal.

Officers saw a man run into a nearby house where spent shell casings were also found.

Map showing Canal foot bridge over Route 1 in Lawrence Township (Google Maps)

A 16-hour standoff developed that lasted into the evening when a search warrant was executed and John Kachmar, 22, of Lawrence Township was arrested.

Kachmar was charged with aggravated assault, assault with a deadly weapon and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose.

An investigation into the incident is ongoing and Kachmar is expected to face additional charges.

MidJersey.news was first to report on the incident.

Police vehicle along the Delaware Route 1 in Lawrence Township (Dennis Symons, MidJersey.news)

Dan Alexander is a reporter for New Jersey 101.5. You can reach him at dan.alexander@townsquaremedia.com

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Filed Under: Crime, Lawrence (Mercer), Mercer County

Categories: New Jersey News