Shooting Incident at Gloucester Township CVS
GLOUCESTER TWP., N.J. — A violent encounter occurred on Friday at a CVS store located on College Drive, during which an armed suspect was shot by law enforcement officers.
Incident Overview
According to the prosecution’s account, Dougherty ignored commands to drop his weapon and instead advanced towards the officer, prompting the officer to fire in self-defense, striking Dougherty multiple times.
Charges and Evidence
Dougherty is facing several serious charges including:
- Armed Robbery
- Unlawful Possession of a Weapon
- Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose
- Aggravated Assault by Pointing a Firearm at Law Enforcement
During the investigation, law enforcement recovered two firearms: one was found at the scene next to Dougherty, while the second was concealed on his person. As of Friday night, he remained hospitalized for his injuries.
Eyewitness Accounts
A customer present during the incident, Maria Melendez, described the moments leading up to the shooting. Awaiting her turn at the pharmacy counter, Melendez observed a man approach the staff, expressing desperation for medication due to severe pain from cancer. She recounted his repeated claims of not wanting to harm anyone and his indication of self-harm.
As tensions escalated, she noticed Dougherty with his hand in his pocket and decided to leave the store, promptly calling her husband for safety. She recounted, “Once I was on the phone with my husband, I heard the gunshot and I’m like, ‘Oh my God honey, there was a gunshot,’ and he just said, ‘Get out of there, get out of there.’ I just started screaming. Once I got into the car, I just had a panic attack and I don’t know how I got home.”
Response from CVS
CVS has issued a statement regarding the shooting, reinforcing their commitment to cooperation with the ongoing police investigation:
“We’re cooperating with police as they investigate a shooting at our College Drive store in Blackwood. No customers, patients, or colleagues were hurt. The store and pharmacy are currently closed while police are on scene. We’ll reopen as soon as we can. In the meantime, patients with immediate prescriptions can visit any nearby CVS Pharmacy for assistance.”
Ongoing Investigation
The situation at the CVS has prompted a thorough investigation by local authorities. The store is expected to remain closed throughout the weekend as inquiries continue.
