In the aftermath of a house party shooting in Cumberland County that resulted in two deaths and multiple casualties, this from Governor Phil Murphy this morning.

“What we saw in Fairfield Township is a microcosm of the scale of gun violence we see elsewhere in other communities in our state and throughout the country,” Murphy said. “If there is one thing we can never normalize it is senseless gun violence. This is a nation awash in guns. There are still too many people with easy access to guns.”

The investigation is ongoing.

Murphy appeared with attorney General Gurbir Grewal and Colonel Pat Callahan, superintendent of the state police.

“We are in the early stages of an active and ongoing criminal investigation,” said Grewal. “This was not a random act of violence. This was a targeted attack.

“One individual has been arrested and we fully anticipate other arrests,” he added.

The individual in custody is Kevin K. Dawkins of Bridgeton, 36, who at present faces charges that include unlawful possession of a weapon and possession of a large capacity magazine.

He is lodged in the Cumberland County Jail.

He has a criminal arrest record, and was convicted of aggravated sexual assault in 2004.

It is unclear at this time of Dawkins’ precise role in the crime.

Callahan added: “A number of firearms have been recovered [at various locations] in connection with the bloodbath.

The 14 victims range from age 19 to 35 and all live within Cumberland County. They include men and women, said Cumberland County Prosecutor Jennifer Webb-McCrae.

From NJ.com:

Two people were killed and 12 others wounded in a shooting at a house party in Cumberland County late Saturday night.

New Jersey State Police responded to a home in the 1000 block of East Commerce Street in Fairfield Township shortly before midnight to find a 30-year-old man and 25-year-old woman dead of gunshot wounds.

Twelve other adults were struck by gunfire and taken to various hospitals.