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Nicholas Battaglia, a pizza maker and window washer, apparently was taking potshots at people “for fun,” Detective Capt. Thomas Salcedo told CLIFFVIEW PILOT at the time of the mid-March shootings.
The Battaglia siblings, along with a replica of the type of weapon
The victims were in the area of a Pizza Hut parking lot at Essex and State streets across from Battaglia’s apartment, Salcedo said.
“At the time we didn’t know whether it was a drive-by or from a stationary position,” the captain told CLIFFVIEW PILOT.
Detectives canvassed the area and hit on Battaglia’s apartment. They knocked and immediately spotted the box for an air rifle inside, Salcedo said.
The .177 caliber Crosman Air Rifle — same as the model pictured above — was recovered, authorities said.
Battaglia was taken to headquarters, along with his sister, 30-year-old Rebecca Battaglia.
Nicholas Battaglia, who turns 26 in two weeks, remains held on $75,000 bail in the Bergen County Jail. He faces six grand jury counts related to possessing, pointing and shooting the rifle.
His sister remains free on two grand jury charges of trying to hide the rifle and keep police from arresting him.
(Among those pictured below: Assistant Bergen County Prosecutor Edward “Ted” Burke, public defender Nathan Kittner, Rebecca Battaglia, public defender Ednin Martinez, Nicholas Battaglia)
STORY / PHOTOS: Mary K. Miraglia, CLIFFVIEW PILOT Courthouse Reporter
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