An alleged targeted attack possibly arising out of a homicide investigation led to an afternoon shootout in Jersey City yesterday leaving six dead.

Of those, one was a 17-year Jersey City police officer, Joe Seals. Three victims are civilians caught in a deli when the gunmen took over the location. The alleged perpetrators were reported dead on the scene.

This is Det Joe Seals who was killed in the line of duty today! He was a husband and father of 5. He is a #Hero and died protecting the citizens of Jersey City! God Bless his family and all of the JCPD members! #JerseyCityShooting @JCPoliceDept pic.twitter.com/pvs62bb0af

— NJ Chiefs of Police (@NJSACOP) December 10, 2019

Preliminary police sources identified the two alleged perpetrators as male after earlier reports suggested it was one man and one woman dressed in black.

SEE THE ATTACK UNFOLD: Gunmen who targeted Jewish Kosher supermarket in Jersey City on Tuesday were captured on security camera. pic.twitter.com/8RvGYaaFUS

— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) December 11, 2019

The original site of the encounter took place at a cemetery and moved to MLK Drive.  This preliminary police information was later corrected as seen in video of the attack where the van slowly entered the area and parked directly prior to the staged attack. Mayor Steve Fulop is calling this incident a targeted attack.

Related: The NY Post today identified the alleged perpetrators and one’s ties to a group called the Black Israelites. The same group came to national prominence when seen on video yelling at the Covington Kids visiting DC calling them “white crackers,” and “incest kids” among other names as reported in USA Today.