Gloucester Township, NJ (Courier Post) -- Gunfire erupted at police headquarters in Gloucester Township, New Jersey on Friday morning, sending one officer to the hospital.

A suspect who was under arrest struggled with police and managed to grab a gun and fire at three officers, according to Deputy Chief David Harkins of the Gloucester Township Police Department.

"The officers returned fired and the suspect is deceased at this time inside the police station," he said.

One officer was hit and is in stable condition.

Medics were called to the municipal complex around 6 a.m. for a report of a victim that had sustained a gunshot wound.

Sharon Lehner, who has lived across the street from the station on Chews Landing Road for six years, was concerned she knew those involved in the shooting.

Lehner, a nurse, woke up early to go to work and heard a commotion.

"Everybody was running up the side here," she said. "I saw a paramedic unit and an ambulance come down. I saw a lot of quick action in the ambulance with officers getting into the ambulance and then leaving."

Much of the investigatory work is being conducted inside the police station. A police cruiser is cordoned off with police tape under a pavilion marked "arrests and prisoner transport only."

A crime scene unit member walked into the lower level of the station with a crate of orange evidence markers.

Gloucester Township Mayor David Mayer addressed the public through a recorded audio message late Friday morning, stating the officers of his department had been involved in a "violent encounter" with a subject in custody.

"All police operations are functioning as normal and calls for service are not being affected," Mayer said. "Certainly our thoughts and prayers are with the officers and their families at this time. Please only call the GTPD for normal calls for service or emergencies."