Sonic booms are nothing compared to this one. It happened yesterday
in New Jersey. My daughter called to tell me about it because the
house was in her neighborhood.
A heavy projectile apparently from Picatinny Arsenal in Rockaway
Township, New Jersey crashed through the roof of a house on Longwood
Lake Road and landed on an empty bed Friday afternoon, authorities
confirmed.
A 14-year-oldcat in the house was seriously injured by the object and
had to be euthanized Friday night. However, no people were hurt in the
bizarre, frightening incident that Jefferson Mayor Russ Felter
described as unprecedented.
Cheryl Angle, whose house was damaged and was inside at the time, said
the hot, heavy, metal object weighed approximately 10 lbs., was about
the size of her hand and caused the bed to smolder. It smashed into
her daughter Cassandra's bed and wounded the family's cat, Sarah.
' ... a mortar shell'
Angle said her daughter was not home because a friend's mother had
picked her up a half-hour earlier than expected.
"They (investigators) said it was the piece of a mortar shell," Angle
said. "They all told me I should play the lottery tonight because it's
a very, very freak thing."
At 8 p.m., a statement from Picatinny officials said that township
police contacted the base about 2:40 p.m. to ask about possibly
related activities. Picatinny dispatched an explosive ordnance
disposal (EOD) team to the house.
"The formal investigation is ongoing and the Army has appointed a
General Officer to conduct the final investigation," the Picatinny
statement said. A spokeswoman wasn't certain whether Picatinny
Commanding General Brig. Gen. William N. Phillips or another officer
would lead the investigation. Also, General Phillips went to the
Jefferson house to discuss the issue with the residents, the base
announcement said.
Neighborhood upset
Some Army personnel on the scene Friday evening were met by distressed
neighbors, who complained of recent house-shaking operations on the
base.
Police initially contacted the FAA before a determination was made
that the projectile likely came from Picatinny, rather than an
aircraft, Jefferson Police Detective Joe Kratzel said.
"At first, they thought it was an airplane," Felter said.
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