Police in Camden shoot armed man who opens fire on infant and woman, authorities say

A Camden man shot at a woman and an infant at close range and was then shot by a police officer who was responding to the apartment for a 911 call, authorities said Friday.

Jose A. Fernandez-Ventura, 38, has been charged with attempted murder, aggravated assault, endangering the welfare of a child, and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose.

The woman, who was shot when the gunfire erupted about 11:30 a.m. Wednesday in a second-floor apartment in the 2700 block of Federal Street, was taken to Cooper University Hospital.

She was sitting on a sofa holding an 8-month-old on her lap when the gunshots began. Neither the infant or another child — a 1-year-old who police saw in the stairwell — were injured.

The Camden County Prosecutor's Office declined to say whether the bullets fired by the officer, or those allegedly fired by Fernandez-Ventura, struck the woman, who was dating Fernandez-Ventura. The office also did not say whether the woman was the mother of the children.

Fernandez-Ventura was shot multiple times by police. He was also taken to Cooper. The prosecutor's office did not release his or the woman's conditions Friday.

A man who said the woman was his sister-in-law called 911 Wednesday and reported, through a Spanish translator, that another man was threatening her, according to a recording of the call provided Friday by the prosecutor's office.

The gunshots could be heard in a barber shop below the apartment. A video on Facebook showed a police officer holding the woman's arms and another officer holding her legs as they carried her out of the building after the gunfire.

The officer, who was not identified, was placed on administrative leave, which is standard procedure as the prosecutor's office investigates whether the use of force was justified.

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