Toms River, NJ — A New Jersey man wanted for the recent murder of a 25-year-old mother ended his life with a self-inflicted gunshot wound on Friday evening, following a nearly seven-hour police standoff at a Toms River residence, according to the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office.
Maxwell Johnston, 35, from Manchester, was the subject of a law enforcement operation aimed at apprehending him under charges of fatally shooting Gabriella Caroleo in Manchester Township on June 27. Caroleo, who was found suffering from a gunshot wound to the abdomen, succumbed to her injuries at a local hospital.
The standoff commenced early Friday afternoon after law enforcement arrived at the home on Ravenwood Drive to execute an arrest warrant. In response to what swiftly escalated into what authorities described as an “active shooter situation,” local and county police, including SWAT teams, secured the perimeter and evacuated nearby residents to ensure safety.
Throughout the standoff, Johnston reportedly fired multiple shots at police, intensifying the situation and prompting tactical responses. The confrontation reached a peak around 6:30 p.m. when police deployed an armored vehicle near the front of the home, signaling a potential breach.
Approximately 45 minutes after the armored vehicle was positioned, a woman exited the house with her hands raised and was quickly escorted to safety by officers. Her identity and relationship to Johnston were not disclosed by officials.
At about 7:45 p.m., law enforcement used stun grenades to enter the home, subsequently discovering Johnston deceased. The standoff concluded without injury to police or other individuals involved.
Johnston had been known to law enforcement with a criminal history that included at least four prior convictions related to firearms and narcotics between 2009 and 2015. After serving nearly seven years, he was released from prison in 2022, but re-incarcerated for several months before his most recent release in December, as reported by authorities.
In a post-incident briefing, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer commended the bravery and professionalism of the law enforcement officers involved in the intense and lengthy operation. “I’d like to commend the men and women in law enforcement that spent the day trying to bring this situation to a peaceful resolution. [They] handled themselves professionally and thankfully none of them were injured,” Billhimer stated.
The incident underscores ongoing concerns about domestic incidents involving armed suspects and the challenges faced by law enforcement in managing such high-risk situations. It also highlights the broader issues of gun violence and recidivism among previously convicted individuals.
This event marks a tragic end to the search for a suspect in a case that has gripped the local community, particularly affecting residents of Manchester Township and Seine Heights, where the memories of Gabriella Caroleo linger as a reminder of the brutality of her untimely demise.