By: Tracie Carter
Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer and Toms River Township Police Chief Mitchell Little announced that Maxwell Johnston, 35, of Manchester Township, who was wanted in connection with the murder of Ms. Gabriella Caroleo, 25, of Seaside Heights, is deceased from a self-inflicted gunshot wound following a nearly seven-hour standoff at 1905 Ravenwood Drive in Toms River.
Officials said the tense situation unfolded as multiple law-enforcement agencies and first responders converged on Ravenwood Drive for an active shooter incident.
All residents in the immediate vicinity were evacuated, and law-enforcement personnel managed to contain the suspect.
During the standoff, police urged people to avoid the area and to pray for the safety of those involved.
“We thank everyone in the neighborhood for their patience as this situation is concluded and there is no further danger to the public,” Prosecutor Billhimer stated.
Prosecutor Billhimer and Chief Little expressed their gratitude to the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit, Toms River Township Police Department Emergency Services Unit, Ocean County Regional SWAT Team, Toms River Police SWAT Team, Toms River Police Department Detective Bureau, Ocean County Sheriff’s Office, and United States Marshal’s Service for their cooperative assistance.
“I’d like to commend the men and women in law enforcement who spent the day trying to bring this situation to a peaceful resolution. There were many tense moments, and the men and women that were out there handled themselves professionally and thankfully none of them were injured,” Prosecutor Billhimer concluded.