UNION, New Jersey — A tragic shooting at a Chick-fil-A restaurant in New Jersey has left one person dead and several others injured.

The incident unfolded around 9 p.m. on Saturday at the Chick-fil-A located on Route 22 in Union, sparking chaos and concern among patrons and nearby residents.

When police arrived on the scene, they discovered seven individuals had been shot. Tragically, one victim succumbed to their injuries, while the remaining six sustained injuries that are not life-threatening.

Authorities have yet to make any arrests. However, initial investigations suggest that this shooting was not a random act of violence, and officials have assured the public that there is no ongoing threat to community safety.

While no arrests have been made at this time, a preliminary investigation reveals the incident does not appear to be a random act of violence and that there is no immediate ongoing threat to the general public.

On Sunday morning, New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill issued a statement responding to the shooting, saying in part, “I have been briefed on the shooting last night in Union Township. As local law enforcement continues their investigation, we remain in close contact with officials on the ground.”

“My thoughts are with those who were injured in the shooting, and with their families.”

All Chick-fil-A locations are closed on Sundays.

ABC New York affiliate WABC spoke to a father of one of the Chick-fil-A workers on Saturday night. He says that his son called him in a panic, saying that multiple suspects wearing masks entered the establishment. He also says several of his co-workers were injured in a shooting.

The father says he drove to the eatery and described what he called a “warzone.”

A Lyft driver named Martin said he was finishing a trip nearby and heard more than seven shots.

“I finished my trip over there, in the return zone. I heard the shots. When I finished the trip I go to Chick-fil-A to buy two burgers — I see the police, I heard the shots very close,” he says.

The Union County Prosecutor’s Office says it is an ongoing investigation. Authorities are also trying to determine a motive for the shooting as part of their investigation.

Haotong Li nearly pulled out of The Masters on Friday morning. As he approaches the first tee on Sunday, trailing by just four strokes, he’ll be relieved he decided to stay in the competition.

The Chinese golfer confessed that he spent Thursday night battling illness, unsure if he could manage a full round at Augusta National. His goal was merely to “survive the day,” which he thankfully accomplished.

Fast forward 24 hours, and Li did more than just endure. Despite still feeling unwell on Saturday, he propelled himself into contention. Whatever ailment plagued him, The Masters proved to be a rejuvenating force.

Clad entirely in white—a daring outfit for someone who had been glued to the bathroom the day before—Li delivered an impressive three-under-par 69 during Saturday’s play, bringing his total to seven-under.

As he enters his third Masters tournament and first since 2019, the 30-year-old finds himself a mere four shots from the lead. Adding to the excitement, he’ll be playing alongside world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler in the final round.

To look at Li’s scorecard on Saturday, no one would have been any the wiser that he was battling anything other than arduous Augusta. While he may not be, it was a clean bill of health.

Haotong Li shot a three-under 69 on moving day to put himself in Masters contention 

The impressive display at Augusta came after Li admitted he had been battling illness 

If three birdies through the opening five holes weren’t enough evidence of Li’s recovery, then the eagle three at the eighth certainly was. Splitting the fairway with his drive, Li dialled in his second to a foot of the pin.

Suddenly, a full-strength Li found himself among the challengers and fighting fit to hunt down Rory McIlroy.

Perhaps the toll of the past 48 hours and the repeated bathroom trips began to set in on the back nine, the battle against illness and Augusta ultimately too much. For that’s where the only blemishes in Li’s round could be found.

Li found treacherous Rae’s Creek winding in front of the raised 13th green with his second shot. He suffered a similar watery fate on 15. His second shot into the green at the par-five barely left the ground. It shockingly scuttled along the fairway before trundling into the water.

This time, Li reprimanded himself for taking a splash, clipping himself around the ear. As if his body needed any further punishment this week.

‘Just some negative thoughts between my backswing. Somehow something clicked, I don’t know. Yeah, very disappointed,’ he said of the moment following his round.

Li may be disappointed. But he shouldn’t be.

Heading into Sunday, most of the names atop The Masters leaderboard are familiar. McIlroy, Scheffler, Young, Lowry, Burns; they’re the headliners. And, despite his bathroom battles, Li finds himself among them.

The Chinese star will tee it up alongside world No 1 in the final round at Augusta National 

Li found treacherous Rae’s Creek winding in front of the raised 13th green on Saturday 

He may be a surprise contender, but Li certainly adds an entertaining element to Sunday.

Even without his digestive issues, Li’s journey back to The Masters has been resilient. He delivered a breakout performance at the 2017 Open Championship, shooting a blistering 63 on the final day to finish third behind Jordan Spieth and Matt Kuchar.

Li nearly retired from golf in 2021 after missing 13 of 16 cuts on the DP World Tour. After winning a tournament in Dubai over none other than Masters co-leader McIlroy in 2018, he went over four years without carding a win.

As a result, Li hadn’t appeared at The Masters since 2019, when he played the first two rounds with none other than eventual winner and legend Tiger Woods.

But he has proved himself on golf’s greatest stages. He found himself in contention at last year’s Open Championship where he was also paired alongside Scheffler.

At Royal Portrush, Li and Scheffler headed out in the final pairing. Most people would expect stoicism from the duo dueling for the Claret Jug. But nothing is ever stoic when Li is around.

Scheffler went on to win and Li finished fourth, unlocking his spot at this year’s Masters, but to look at the pair, it resembled any other knockaround round between friends.

They were captured chatting and laughing throughout the round. And, when later asked about the hilarity, Li shared one of Scheffler’s punchlines.

Li and Scheffler played together in the final pairing of the 2025 Open Championship 

Li said he learned to speak English from watching Kevin Hart, who caddied for Bryson DeChambeau in the Masters Par-Three contest on Wednesday 

‘I just said, is there any time I can practice with you when I go to the PGA Tour, and he said yes,’ Li said. ‘But I said, when I text you, you better reply to me.’

‘And he goes, “Haotong Who?”,’ Li said. ‘That was actually funny. Just a lovely guy to play with, and I enjoyed.’

On Sunday, Li heads out with his old pal Scheffler once again. They sit four shots back of Rory McIlroy and Cam Young’s lead., but no doubt they’ll exchange a crack or two in between their hunt of the leaders.

Li’s outsized personality and eccentric character are great assets to the game of golf, which is often viewed as buttoned-up.

For most golfers, making it to The Masters alone is a dream come true, but for Li this week at Augusta has fulfilled fantasies.

He revealed to the ‘Smylie Show’ in February that he learned English from watching Kevin Hart. On Wednesday, he got to meet his idol.

‘You’re my hero!’ he yelled, then exclaimed, ‘Let’s f***ing go!’ on live television when he saw the comedian caddying for Bryson DeChambeau during the Par-Three contest.

‘Obviously met Kevin Hart in person,’ he said of the moment following Saturday’s round. ‘Feel like [Wednesday was more important] than a golf tournament.’

Many would disagree. Heading into Masters Sunday alongside the world No. 1 and the green jacket on the line may just hold some importance.

On Sunday, tensions flared as Russia and Ukraine exchanged blame over numerous strikes, challenging the viability of a Kremlin-declared Easter truce that faltered shortly after its inception.

President Vladimir Putin of Russia announced a temporary ceasefire for the Orthodox Easter, instructing military forces to suspend hostilities from Saturday afternoon until the conclusion of Sunday. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accepted the ceasefire but cautioned that Kyiv would respond swiftly to any breaches.

Yet, the Easter truce seemed to unravel almost immediately.

According to Ukraine’s military, there were 2,299 reported breaches of the ceasefire by early Sunday morning. These included attacks, artillery fire, and minor drone operations, though there were no indications of deployment of long-range drones, missiles, or guided bombs.

Russian President Vladimir Putin was seen making the sign of the cross during the Orthodox Easter service at Moscow’s Cathedral of Christ the Saviour on April 12, 2026. (Alexander Zemlianichenko/AP)

A Ukrainian officer told The Associated Press that Russian troops continued attacking positions despite the declared truce.

Russia’s Defense Ministry fired back, accusing Ukrainian forces of 1,971 violations, including drone strikes in the border regions of Kursk and Belgorod that allegedly injured civilians.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy speaks during a press conference in Bucharest, Romania, on March 12, 2026. (Octav Ganea/Inquam Photos/Reuters)

The head of Russia’s Belgorod region, Vyacheslav Gladkov, said Sunday that the bodies of two civilians have been recovered following an alleged Ukrainian attack on Saturday.

The dueling claims highlight the deep mistrust between the two sides and underscore the difficulty of enforcing even temporary pauses in fighting.

Past ceasefire attempts have collapsed quickly, with both nations routinely blaming each other. A similar truce declared by Putin last Easter also unraveled amid accusations of violations from both sides.

An Easter bread with a candle covered by dust is seen inside a damaged apartment after a Russian drone strike in Sumy, Ukraine, on April 11, 2026. (Ukrainian Emergency Service/AP)

Irena Bulhakova told The Associated Press at a holiday gathering outside Kyiv that she had her doubts about any ceasefires as Russia’s four-year war on Ukraine drags on.

“Every time a ceasefire is announced for a holiday, the shelling continues regardless,” she said.

Reflecting on the meaning of the Orthodox Easter holiday, she added: “Good triumphs over darkness, and we hope for that very much.”

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Alarming 911 calls have shed light on the terrifying scene that unfolded at a Chick-fil-A in New Jersey, as gunfire erupted within the establishment.

On Saturday, the fast-food venue on Route 22 in Union Township became the site of a violent attack, where masked assailants opened fire, resulting in six injuries and one fatality.

The specifics of the attack are still unclear, but authorities suspect it was a deliberate assault, assuring the public that there is currently no ongoing threat to the area.

A substantial emergency response was mobilized following the incident, and a distressing 911 recording captured a dispatcher relaying the grim details of the chaotic aftermath.

The dispatcher reported, “I have an unconscious witness, one individual shot in the face, and at least two others with leg injuries,” according to audio accessed by CBS News New York.

The victims and suspects have not yet been identified. The motive of the attack remains unclear. 

A local who lives a block away from the location previously told the Daily Mail they heard ‘a ruckus’ as well as sirens blaring hours after the shooting ended. 

The father of a Chick-fil-A worker said his son told him multiple armed suspects in masks burst into the fast food joint. 

At least six people were injured and one was killed after masked suspects stormed into the Chick-fil-A on Route 22 in Union Township, New Jersey, on Saturday evening. Victims were seen being loaded into ambulances after witnesses said at least seven shots rang out

A large emergency response descended on the fast food chain after gunfire erupted. A 911 dispatcher was heard saying one person was shot in the face 

The unnamed parent described the busy eatery as a ‘warzone’, and said several of his son’s co-workers had been injured. 

Union County Prosecutor’s Office spokesperson Lauren Farinas told NJ.com that it is conducting ‘an active and ongoing investigation.’

‘More information will be released as it becomes available,’ Farinas stated. 

Another man whose girlfriend works at the restaurant told CBS that the group of suspects barged in and went directly behind the counter, firing multiple shots.

A Lyft driver told ABC that he was finishing a drop-off near the Chick-fil-A when he heard more than seven shots fired.

‘I finished my trip over there, in the return zone. I heard the shots. When I finished the trip, I go to Chick-fil-A to buy two burgers – I see the police, I heard the shots very close,’ he said.

Footage showed victims being loaded into ambulances after witnesses said at least seven shots rang out. 

The Chick-fil-A is located at 2139 US 22 in Union, New Jersey. The town is located just over 15 miles outside of New York City.

A parking lot off of Route 22 was also completely closed off amidst the violence, and the location was sent into lockdown. 

Former New Jersey Assemblyman Jamel Holley posted a statement about the shooting on social media.

‘Numerous people are injured & one confirmed dead as emergency crews are on the scene responding to a mass shooting after gunfire erupted inside a Chick-fil-A in Union, New Jersey,’ he wrote. ‘Keep everyone in your prayers.’

New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill also released a statement following the violent shooting. 

‘I have been briefed on the shooting last night in Union Township. As local law enforcement continues their investigation, we remain in close contact with officials on the ground,’ she said. 

‘My thoughts are with those who were injured in the shooting, and with their families.

‘I am grateful to our first responders for their swift action and continued efforts to keep the community safe.’ 

Union Township Mayor Patricia Guerra-Frazier shared on Sunday that the ‘community is heartbroken and shaken by the tragic act of violence’. 

A parking lot off of Route 22 was also completely closed off amidst the violence, and the location was sent into lockdown after shots rang out

‘On behalf of the Township of Union, we are keeping all those affected in our thoughts and prayers during this incredibly difficult time. 

‘The investigation is under the jurisdiction of the Union County Prosecutor’s Office and we are working closely with all of our law enforcement partners as the investigation continues. 

‘At this time, I urge anyone with information to come forward and assist authorities.

‘This tragedy is a painful reminder of the work that remains to ensure the safety of our communities. 

‘Violence has no place in the Township of Union, and we will continue to stand together—stronger and more united—in the face of it.’ 

When contacted by the Daily Mail, a Chick-fil-A spokesperson said: ‘No statement to share at this point as it’s an ongoing investigation.’ 

Union County Prosecutor William A. Daniel said that this remains ‘an active and ongoing investigation’. 

The agency is offering an award up to $10,000 for anyone who brings information to police that leads to an indictment or conviction of a suspect involved in the shooting, the statement continued.