People are overcome outside the hostage situation in Trenton, which involves children. (REUTERS)
A state police SWAT team member readies a robot to enter the home. (AP)
TRENTON, NJ — Authorities continued to negotiate a surrender with a gunman holding three children hostage in a New Jersey home since Friday, after cops say he killed their mother and a 13-year-old brother.
The armed suspect, who has not been identified by police, barricaded himself in the South Trenton home he had shared with the victim, Carmen Kelly, 42, and her five children. The victim’s two daughters, ages 14 and 17, and a 4-year-old son are believed to be still alive in the house at 250 Grand Street.
Her 19-year-old son, who is autistic, had been staying with relatives.
Juana Martinez, a friend of the gunman, told The Post that the unemployed security guard met Kelly only three months ago and moved in a month later.
But the victim recently kicked the gunman out of the house, and he had been living in his car, she said.
“He was depressed about that and other things,” said Martinez, adding he was supposed to start a new job on Monday.
Martinez said he had told her he served 10 years on a sex rap.
Police discovered the decomposing body of the suspect’s girlfriend during a wellness check around 3 p.m. on Friday, the Trenton Times reported.
Trenton Police Lieutenant Edelmiro Gonzalez told Reuters that officers checked the house Friday afternoon and encountered the gunman and quickly backed off.