Local Alum, Nearby Mayor Killed in Skydiving Accident

A local attorney and mayor of a nearby borough was killed Friday in a skydiving accident in Monroe Township, Gloucester County, N.J.

C. Scott Shields, Rutledge Borough mayor, was killed after his main parachute did not open Friday afternoon, according to preliminary findings by detectives with the Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office.

Shields, 45, was a criminal defense and accident attorney in Media whose law offices are on State Street.

According to Shields' Facebook page, he attended Radnor High School and graduated from Haverford High School in 1983. He is also a graduate of University of Florida and Widner Law School.

Shields, who had more than 100 skydiving jumps under his belt, flew from Freefall Adventures in Williamstown, N.J., according to published reports on philly.com.

He landed at approximately 4:25 p.m. in a wooded area near Freefall Adventures property, according a press release from Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office spokesman Bernie Weisenfeld. He had been jumping with other skydivers.

Witnesses reported that Shields’ emergency parachute, which opens automatically, did not fully inflate, according to Weisenfeld. 

He was pronounced dead upon arrival at Underwood Memorial Hospital in Woodbury, N.J., according to Weisenfeld.

The Gloucester County medical examiner determined his death was the result of multiple injuries, according to Weisenfeld.

According to the Law Offices of C. Scott Shields Web site, Shields had three daughters and was serving his second term as Rutledge mayor.

Shields served on Rutledge Borough Council for eight years, prior to being elected mayor in 2006, according to the borough’s Web site.

He was also a frequent guest columnist for the Delaware County Daily Times. 

Detectives with the Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office will meet with representatives of the Federal Aviation Administration on Saturday in order to inspect Shields' parachute and rig.