Teaneck man shot after attacking prominent Princetonian William Sword Jr. in his home.
By: David Campbell
Princeton Township police shot dead a 24-year-old Teaneck man early Thursday morning after he gained entry to home of a prominent Princeton family and attacked the homeowner with a kitchen knife.
William Sword Jr., 51, of 1036 The Great Road West suffered numerous stab wounds and was airlifted to Capital Health System Fuld Campus, where he was reported in good condition Thursday afternoon.
Jelani Manigault of Teaneck, a University of Maryland senior, was fatally shot outside Mr. Sword’s residence after police discharged three rounds with their weapons, Mercer County Prosecutor Daniel Giaquinto said at a press conference Thursday at Princeton Township Hall.
Mr. Manigault was staying overnight with his parents, who were attending a religious retreat at the Tenacre Foundation, a Christian Science training and retreat center on The Great Road.
Preliminary investigation suggests the shooting was justified, but because it was a police shooting, the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office will make a final determination pending inquiry by the prosecutor’s office, State Police and Princeton Township Police, Mr. Giaquinto said.
The county prosecutor would not elaborate on the mental state of Mr. Manigault, but said it was a "possibility" he advanced on police with the knife in order to make them shoot him.
Autopsy results on Mr. Manigault are pending, said township Police Capt. Peter Savalli.
Neither Tenacre nor Mr. Manigualt’s parents would comment Thursday on the tragedy, said Tenacre President Cynthia Love.

