A Jersey City man has been charged with attempting to murder seven police officers during an incident on Saturday in which he allegedly assaulted his wife and held her and at least on other person against their will.
JERSEY CITY -- A Jersey City man who police say held his wife and one other person hostage on Saturday afternoon has been charged with seven counts of attempted murder after shooting at officers responding to the standoff.
Henry A. Merette, 29, of Martin Luther King Drive off Armstrong Avenue, is also charged with multiple weapons offenses related to a 9mm handgun, aggravated assault, making terroristic threats and criminal restraint, the criminal complaint states.
The complaint states Merette forced his way into the Bergen Avenue apartment with a gun drawn and tied up the victims. It alleges he punched, slapped and kicked the target of his rage in the head, face and body in an attempt to cause serious bodily injury. The woman was later take to Jersey City Medical Center-Barnabas Health for treatment, an official said.
Merette allegedly fired two rounds through the apartment door at officers trying to talk to him during the incident that began around 12:40 p.m. Officers of the police Emergency Services Unit and a hostage negotiator also responded to the scene, officials said, adding that no officers were injured.
Within about an hour, police entered the apartment, rescued the woman and arrested Marette without incident. The victim's sister had called police and advised them of the situation at the residence, adding that there were firearms in the apartment. Two guns were recovered, Jersey City spokeswoman Jennifer Morrill said.
Attempted murder carries a possible sentence of 10 to 20 years in prison upon conviction.
Merette made his first court appearance on the charges this afternoon in Central Judicial Processing court in Jersey City via video link from Hudson County jail in Kearny. His bail was to be set later in Superior Court due to the seriousness of the charges.