Crime
Pilots Identified as Kenneth Kirsch and Michael Greenberg in Fatal Midair Helicopter Collision in Hammonton
HAMMONTON, N.J. (Atlantic County) — A second helicopter pilot critically injured in a midair collision in South Jersey has died from his injuries, police confirmed Monday, bringing the death toll from the crash to two.
The collision occurred Sunday near Basin Road and White Horse Pike, shortly after both aircraft departed Hammonton Municipal Airport. Hammonton Police identified the pilots as Kenneth L. Kirsch, 65, of Carney’s Point, and Michael Greenberg, 71, of Sewell.
Police said Kirsch was piloting an Enstrom F-28A helicopter and was airlifted to a hospital in critical condition following the crash.
Authorities confirmed Monday that Kirsch later succumbed to his injuries. Greenberg, who was flying an Enstrom 280C helicopter, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Hammonton Police Chief Kevin Friel described the two men as longtime friends who shared a deep passion for aviation and were well known at the local airport.
“They’ve been flying for quite some time,” Friel said. “They were kind of a staple at the Hammonton airport. They would frequently fly in, meet each other to have a meal together, and then fly out.”
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that the pilots were the only occupants aboard both helicopters at the time of the crash.
Investigators said the aircraft had taken off from Hammonton Municipal Airport shortly before the 11:25 a.m. collision. When firefighters arrived, one of the helicopters was fully engulfed in flames.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is leading the investigation, with assistance from the FAA.
NTSB investigators returned to the crash site early Monday to document the debris field, which officials said extends approximately 100 yards.
A spokesperson for the NTSB said both helicopters are scheduled to be removed from the site on Tuesday and transported to a secure facility for further examination.
A preliminary report is expected within 30 days, though officials cautioned that the full investigation could take considerably longer.
“It’s going to be a little while,” Chief Friel said. “They are very meticulous. They try to recover every part and piece of each aircraft to determine whether there was a mechanical malfunction, a component failure, or possible pilot error.”
In a statement shared on social media, New Jersey Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill expressed condolences to the victims’ families and gratitude for first responders.
“My heart is broken for the family of the pilot killed in yesterday’s fatal helicopter crash in Hammonton,” Sherrill wrote. “I am grateful for the emergency responders on the ground.”
Sherrill is a former U.S. Navy helicopter pilot, adding personal weight to her remarks.
The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities said additional information will be released as it becomes available.
Crime
16-year-old Khyon Smith-Tate found shot to death inside Chipotle bathroom on edge of Temple University’s campus in North Philadelphia
PHILADELPHIA — A 16-year-old boy was fatally shot inside the bathroom of a Chipotle restaurant near Temple University’s campus in North Philadelphia on Monday afternoon, police said, as students and staff returned for the first day of the Spring 2026 semester.
The shooting occurred at approximately 5:00 p.m. inside the Chipotle located in the 1100 block of West Montgomery Avenue, on the ground floor of The View at Montgomery apartment complex. The building is situated near Temple University’s Student Center and TECH Center.
Police later identified the victim as Khyon Smith-Tate, a North Philadelphia resident. Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small said Smith-Tate was found with a gunshot wound to the chest and was pronounced dead at 5:24 p.m.
Temple University President John Fry and Vice President for Public Safety and Chief of Police Jennifer Griffin issued a joint statement following the incident:
“The loss of life to gun violence is a profound tragedy, and there are no words that can make sense of it. Our thoughts are with the victim’s family and loved ones.”
According to investigators, Smith-Tate and another minor entered the restaurant and requested access to the restroom. Chief Inspector Small said the shooting is believed to have occurred inside the bathroom.
Moments later, employees discovered Smith-Tate suffering from a gunshot wound. Police recovered one spent shell casing from a semiautomatic weapon inside the restroom.
Although the victim’s last known address was approximately eight blocks from the scene, authorities have not indicated what brought him to the location or what led to the shooting.
At the time of the incident, the restaurant was crowded, and multiple individuals inside the business were detained briefly for questioning. However, police said they have not yet obtained any statements from witnesses who reported hearing a gunshot.
A person of interest was taken into custody several blocks from the scene shortly after the shooting, but Chief Inspector Small said that individual’s involvement remains unclear.
As of Tuesday, police confirmed that no arrests have been made and no motive has been established.
Investigators believe Smith-Tate entered the restroom with another minor, though the whereabouts of that individual remain unknown.
Police are also seeking information about three possible suspects, described as teenagers carrying backpacks.
Chief Inspector Small noted that the area is equipped with numerous surveillance cameras, which detectives are reviewing as part of the ongoing investigation.
Authorities are asking anyone with information related to the incident to contact the Philadelphia Police Department.