Five hostages being held by a crazed man with an AK-47 inside a New Jersey housing project were set free when a SWAT team forced their way inside and subdued the gunman with pepper spray, officials said.
The team descended on the apartment on South St. near Dawson St. in Newark about 2:45 a.m. after suspect Yusef Rogers, 32, pulled his weapon on his girlfriend and four others — including a 14-year-old boy, officials said.
After a four-hour standoff, the SWAT team raided the apartment and disoriented Rogers with the pepper spray.
His five hostages were removed from the apartment unharmed, officials said.