Father of six shot dead by police outside Walmart in Cape May County, NJ

Andre Moore, 37, was fatally shot by police near a Walmart in Middle Township on Friday. His family say he had been struggling with his mental health for months.

Man fatally shot by officers outside Rio Grande Walmart

A 37-year-old man was killed in an officer-involved shooting outside a Walmart in Middle Township, Cape May County, New Jersey, on Friday morning, 6abc.com reports.

Andre Moore was shot at approximately 10:30 a.m. near Route 9 and Satt Boulevard in the Rio Grande section of the township. Investigators were seen surrounding a black car at the scene, which appeared to be missing a front tyre.

The New Jersey Attorney General's Office has opened an investigation into the shooting, standard procedure in New Jersey whenever a police officer uses deadly force. The exact circumstances that led to the shooting have not been disclosed.

Moore's two sisters and the mother of his unborn child spoke exclusively with Action News within hours of the shooting. They described Moore as a father of six who had been struggling with deteriorating mental health in recent months.

His sister, Vienna Smith, said the family had actively sought help for him before the incident.

"My brother had some stuff going on, and he needed help, and that's what we were trying to do was get him help," Smith said. "And I took him somewhere to help him, and they let him go."

Smith said Moore's condition had worsened steadily over time.

"It's slowly progressed and got worse and worse and worse, and it got to the point where he just thought everybody was after him," she said.

Family members were adamant that the shooting did not reflect who Moore truly was.

"He was like real loving, he had a big heart, do anything for you, loves kids," Smith said. "He was just going through something, and they're gonna make him seem like something that he's not."

Moore's girlfriend was also in the vehicle at the time of the shooting and sustained injuries. A medical helicopter was dispatched to the scene, though authorities have not released further details on the nature or extent of her injuries.

Smith expressed grief over the impact on Moore's children, including one yet to be born.

"They just took a father from his children," she said. "This baby is on the way."

Police closed the surrounding area — a busy shopping district near the Walmart — while investigators processed the scene, with a detour put in place for the public. The Attorney General's Office is expected to release further information as the investigation progresses.

Source: Google News MT — Crime (en)