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Senator Steinhardt responds to Phillipsburg shooting and Attorney General Matt Platkin’s misguided response

PHILLIPSBURG, NJ (Warren County) – Senator Doug Steinhardt responded to Attorney General Matt Platkin’s misguided response to a shooting related to domestic violence that occurred in Phillipsburg Saturday afternoon.

On April 8, at around 1:13 p.m., police received a report that a female had been shot by a black male wearing a red hat and blue jeans in the area of 10 Hanover Street in Phillipsburg, the Warren County Prosecutor’s Office said.

Police were dispatched and arrived at the scene at 1:16 p.m. Lt. Douglas Baylor, a twenty-four year veteran of the Phillipsburg Police Department arrived along with Officer Fielding, authorities said.

Immediately upon the officers arrival the suspect, who was identified as Alkabir I. Boone, 35, of 10 Hanover Street in Phillipsburg, opened fire on the police, the prosecutor’s office said.

Lt. Baylor suffered a gunshot wound to his leg specifically his thigh when one of the shots passed through the door of the police vehicle and struck him as he was exiting the vehicle, authorities said.

Officer Fielding attempted to return fire however his weapon malfunctioned, the prosecutor’s office said.

Boone then turned his gun on himself and took his own life, authorities said.

Lt. Baylor and the female victim were flown to St. Luke’s Hospital, Bethlehem. Lt. Baylor was treated and released later the same day, the prosecutor’s office said.

The female received three gunshot wounds and remains hospitalized and is in stable condition, authorities said.

Boone used an illegally possessed 9MM handgun during the shooting, authorities said.

“While the police are still investigating the incident in Phillipsburg this past weekend, we already know that the assailant used an illegally possessed handgun in the attack,” said Steinhardt (R-23) “As I’ve said many times previously, we are not doing enough to address the fact that most gun crimes are committed with crime guns by known criminals like Alkabir Boone. It’s hard to deal with gun crime when you let repeat gun offenders off the hook with slaps on the wrist, bail reform, probation, early release, and a kiss on the cheek. I’m disappointed that the Attorney General’s response wasn’t to address that failure to hold criminals accountable but to attack the 2nd Amendment rights of law-abiding New Jerseyans.”

According to the Warren County Prosecutor’s Office, Alkabir Boone had five prior arrests over the past 15 years for simple assault, resisting arrest (twice), second-degree unlawful possession of a handgun, and third-degree conspiracy to manufacture/distribute a controlled dangerous substance.

Rather than addressing the fact that a felon with multiple convictions ignored New Jersey’s gun laws to illegally possess a handgun and commit more gun crimes, Attorney General Matt Platkin saw it as an opportunity to highlight his intentions to broadly disarm New Jerseyans, Steinhardt said.

Following the incident, the Attorney General tweeted, “I remain committed to getting guns out of homes and off our streets.”

“Like Governor Murphy and fellow Democrats, the Attorney General fails to see any distinction between repeat criminals who commit violent crimes and law-abiding New Jerseyans who have a 2nd Amendment right to protect themselves from those criminals,” said Steinhardt said. “Thankfully, as a result of the Bruen decision, more people, including female victims of domestic violence, will have the right to protect themselves legally with a firearm both inside and outside their homes.”

Jay Edwards

Born and raised in Northwest NJ, Jay has a degree in Communications and has had a life-long interest in local radio and various styles of music. Jay has held numerous jobs over the years such as stunt car driver, bartender, voice-over artist, traffic reporter (award winning), NY Yankee maintenance crewmember and peanut farm worker. His hobbies include mountain climbing, snowmobiling, cooking, performing stand-up comedy and he is an avid squirrel watcher. Jay has been a guest on America’s Morning Headquarters,program on The Weather Channel, and was interviewed by Sam Champion.

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