A manhunt is beginning after a gunman murders two people and injures 12 others in a shooting spree at a home party in New Jersey

A manhunt was launched Sunday for a shooter who opened fire at a packed home party, killing 2 people and 12  injuring, startling a calm, rural village 50 miles south of Philadelphia. The bodies of a 30-year-old male and a 25-year-old woman were discovered just before midnight Saturday, according to state police. According to authorities, one of the injured partygoers is in critical condition.

The perimeter of the sprawling property was checked by police with dogs on Sunday. On Sunday, Fairfield Township Mayor Benjamin Byrd Sr. was on the scene, where tents and chairs had been toppled all over the yard. Byrd stated he did not realize much about the shooting.

“No one realizes when someone with a gun will emerge from the woods,” Byrd said.

Family members were at the party, according to John Fuqua, and his nephew had to run for cover when shooter rang out from the woods. “He got on the floor, he had to crawl after stepping over a dead body,” Fuqua said. “He stated he was having a fantastic time and then there was gunshots and he had to flee for his life,” she claimed.

Aerial views of the scene revealed a large, tree-shrouded house surrounded by debris. The incident was defined as a “horrible mass shooting” by Gov. Phil Murphy, who said the home party drew hundreds of people.

Fairfield is a 6,000-person hamlet on the Delaware River in South Jersey. New Jersey State Police, as well as Cumberland County and law enforcement agencies, are investigating the shooting. The gunfire was heard by a pastor at a church across the street from the shooting scene. Before learning they were gunshots, Trinity AME Church’s Rev. Michael Keene said he heard a noise like fireworks.

Hundreds of largely young individuals attended a 90s-themed birthday party, according to community officials. The neighbourhood has had many obstacles, according to Melissa Helmbrecht of the HopeLoft Community Center, “and we’ve had a lot of tragedies.” Several members of the community centre, she stated, were present during the celebration.