A man was shot and killed by police in New Jersey early Monday after officers arrived at a house and found two women stabbed.
North Bergen police were called to 1601 Union Turnpike, near Grand Avenue, at about 3:30 a.m. for a report of a fight, according to Hudson County Prosecutor's Office.
Officers arrived to find a woman with multiple stab wounds. She directed police to the back of the house, where police found another stabbed woman along with the suspect, a 45-year-old man.
The two police officers tried to engage the suspect and de-escalate the situation so they could give the stabbed woman medical assistance, according to authorities.
Residents say they first heard fighting about an hour before dawn.
"One is here, and the other is screaming for 'help, help, help,'" said neighnor Rosa Ramos.
Officers tried to use pepper-spray on the suspect but were unsuccessful; ultimately, both officers discharged their guns, and the suspect was shot in the stomach.
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"I'm hearing the cop say, "Drop it, drop it, drop it,'" said neighbor Danilo Ortega. "I don't know why, I don't know what happened but I'm hearing two shots."
The suspect, identified as Winston Espino Sanchez of Union City, was treated at the scene and then transported by EMS to Jersey City Medical Center where he was pronounced dead, the prosecutor's office said.
The officers involved in the shooting were not hurt, officials say.
Along with the two women who were stabbed -- a 31-year-old North Bergen resident and a 34-year-old Guttenberg resident -- a 33-year-old man from Union City was also stabbed and located by police. All three were transported to Jersey City Medical Center, and the women were in stable condition while the man was treated and released.
Residents say police have been called many times to the apartment in the past, where they believed prostitution was happening.
"Many times when I come home in the morning from my job, I see them out late in the morning," said Sebastian Ortega. "I don't know what was going on up there, was a party or anything. Usually they are always on the porch, just hanging around. I'm guessing something got out of hand."
The Hudson County Prosecutor is investigating.
