Man Shoots Up Home, Flees From Imaginary Gunmen: Police

A New Jersey man is recovering after police say he opened fire inside his own home and broke into his neighbor's house while believing he was being chased by gunmen who didn't even exist.

Police responded to a 911 call on Sunday shortly after 4:30 a.m. from a homeowner on Lisbon Avenue in Absecon, NJ. Police say the 53-year-old homeowner, identified by law enforcement sources as Nino Calabrese, told them several gunmen had broken into his home and opened fire. Calabrese allegedly told police he pulled out his own weapon, a .38 revolver, and returned fire through the walls of his bedroom.

Investigators say Calabrese then told police he jumped from a second-story bathroom window to escape. Calabrese allegedly ran into the home of his neighbor, David Tucci, to ask for help. He spotted Tucci asleep on the couch and was unable to wake him up. Police say Calabrese then believed the same gunmen who broke into his home had killed Tucci. Police say Calabrese, still in fear for his own life, broke a second story window in Tucci's home with a chair and then jumped into a backyard pool.

Police say Calabrese then fled to another neighbor's garage and hid there until he surrendered to arriving officers.

A SWAT team was called to the scene and police evacuated six homes on the block until around 10:30 a.m. Police say the only one who was injured during the ordeal was Calabrese who suffered back injuries after jumping from his window. Police also say Calabrese fired around 20 shots inside his house and that the gunmen he claimed were chasing him didn't actually exist.

Police sources say Calabrese is married with two daughters. His wife and children were not at his home at the time however and are safe.

Calabrese was taken to the hospital and underwent treatment, according to police sources. Sources also say officials performed toxicology tests on him. He has not yet been charged for the incident.

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