Victims IDd: Off-Duty Cop Allegedly Kills Estranged Wife In NJ – Jefferson, NJ Patch

A bucolic community in Morris County became the scene of a horrific shooting death on Sunday night and Monday morning.

An off-duty Newark police officer shot and killed his estranged wife and critically injured her boyfriend in New Jersey late Sunday, according to prosecutors.

The officer was later taken into custody in Livingston at 2 a.m., according to the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office. The woman’s boyfriend, who was shot, is in critical condition but the kids were unharmed.

The shooter’s wife has been identified as 37-year-old Christine Formisano, Morris County Prosecutor Fredric M. Knapp said Monday night.

Lt. John Formisano, 49, a 24-year veteran of the department, shot his estranged wife inside a home on Mirror Place in Jefferson, a Newark police spokeswoman told Patch.

Jefferson Township police were called to a 1 Mirror Way home around 11:30 p.m. on Sunday for reports of shots fired. Police say they found Christine Formisano’s body on the doorstep at nearby 5 Mirror Place, and found the injured 40-year-old boyfriend inside of 1 Mirror Place.

Formisano was taken into custody at his parents’ house in Livingston, according to police.

“The Newark Public Safety Department is deeply saddened by the family tragedy involving Newark Police Lt. John Formisano, Public Safety Director Anthony F. Ambrose said in a statement. “Our foremost concern, of course, is for the couple’s two children who have lost their mother and for the family of the victim.

“Lt. Formisano’s colleagues in our police division were shocked by the news of the shooting and we recognize it this is a tragedy beyond comprehension for all involved.”

Thomas Verrone, a neighbor to the victim in Jefferson, told northjersey.com that he and his family heard three shots:”We thought they were fireworks.”

Police cars whizzed by and people were told to stay put. Verrone and his daughter, Rachel, said they saw a police officer who was not Formisano walking around with a large rifle. Then came six more gunshots, according to northjersey.com.

The Morris County Prosecutor’s Office said it “can confirm an active investigation at this time, and there’s no danger to the public.”

Jefferson Township police posted about the incident on Facebook early Monday and warned residents about “a serious incident” in the White Rock section of the township.

“Due to an ongoing police crime scene investigation, very limited information can be released at this time, but there was a serious incident that occurred late Sunday night in the White Rock section of Jefferson.

“There is no danger to the public. Part of Mirror Place will be closed in order to complete the investigation. More information will be released by the Morris County Prosecutor Office at the appropriate time.”

This is a developing story. Patch will have more information as it comes in.

With reporting by Katie Kausch