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Secaucus PD Properly Handled Suicidal Gunman Who Fired At Them, Grand Jury Finds Secaucus PD Properly Handled Suicidal Gunman Who Fired At Them, Grand Jury Finds
Secaucus PD Properly Handled Suicidal Gunman Who Fired At Them, Grand Jury Finds As expected, a grand jury found that Secaucus police bore no responsibility in the death of a gunman who exchanged shots with them before turning the weapon on himself, authorities announced Tuesday. Officers responding to a shots-fired call in the 300 block of Sea Isle Key in the Harmon Cove development on Dec. 1, 2019 found town resident Anthony Rosso, 68, armed with a handgun, Acting New Jersey Attorney General Andrew J. Bruck said. Rosso opened fire at the officers, who shot back, grazing his arm, Bruck said. He then shot himself in the head, the attorney general said. Rosso was prono…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
DOUBLE SUICIDE: Men From NJ, PA Found Dead At Gianni Versace's Former Mansion In Miami DOUBLE SUICIDE: Men From NJ, PA Found Dead At Gianni Versace's Former Mansion In Miami
Double Suicide: Men From NJ, PA Found Dead At Gianni Versace's Former Mansion In Miami Men from Pennsylvania and New Jersey died in an apparent double suicide at fashion icon Gianni Versace's former mansion in Miami -- nearly 24 years to the day the Italian designer was killed on the building's front steps, authorities announced. Housekeeping found the bodies of Adam Rashap, 31, of Randolph, New Jersey, and Alexander Gross, 30, of York, Pennsylvania, inside of The Villa Casa Casuarina luxury hotel around 1:20 p.m., law enforcement in Miami said. Miami Beach spokesman Ernesto Rodriguez said the deaths are being investigated as suicides. Serial killer Andrew Cunanan …

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by Nicole Acosta & Cecilia Levine
News
Bethlehem Police Officer Matthew Ragusa Who Died By Suicide Gave Others Hope Bethlehem Police Officer Matthew Ragusa Who Died By Suicide Gave Others Hope
Bethlehem Police Officer Matthew Ragusa Who Died By Suicide Gave Others Hope The Lehigh Valley community is mourning the loss of a Bethlehem police officer who died by suicide on July 4. Matthew Ragusa was "a beckon of light to countless citizens who needed hope in their darkest hour," wrote Robert Corsi. Corsi organized a GoFundMe to help with funeral expenses and other needs for his wife Stephanie, and three sons, Xavier, 13, Braxton, 10, and Lex, 6. The campaign had raised more than $33,000 as of Thursday evening. Matthew RagusaGoFundMe photo Prior to joining the Bethlehem Police Department in 2015, Ragusa served as a Sergeant in the United States Marine Cor…

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by Nicole Acosta
News
Students Petition To Save Graduation Seat For Bergen Classmate Who Died By Suicide Students Petition To Save Graduation Seat For Bergen Classmate Who Died By Suicide
Students Petition To Save Graduation Seat For Bergen Classmate Who Died By Suicide A Bergen County teen who took his own life won't be honored at his high school's upcoming graduation ceremony, prompting protest from students and community members. Instead, there will be a moment of silence, district officials said. A memorial service honoring 16-year-old Jordan Falco during the 2021 graduation ceremony next Tuesday would "set a bad precedent," a Change.org petition quotes Northern Valley Demarest High School Principal Dr. Timothy Gouraige as saying.  Gouraige, in his defense, told Daily Voice that it was "a district decision, not a building decision," and denied saying…

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
TRIBUTE: Community Mourns Sudden Loss Of Downingtown Football Star TRIBUTE: Community Mourns Sudden Loss Of Downingtown Football Star
Tribute: Community Mourns Sudden Loss Of Downingtown Football Star Loved ones, classmates, teammates and others in the Downingtown community will gather Wednesday night to grieve the loss, too soon, of one of their own. Many have been collecting memories of Downingtown West High School football star Costantino Villari since hearing the devastating news that the 17-year-old junior died by suicide when he jumped from the Route 322 bridge on Monday. “Cos” was a “sweet soul” who had the ability to “to change the room's energy all on his own,” wrote Kiana Taniguchi. "He knew the right words and just the right jokes when you needed them most…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
UPDATE: Gunman Among 2 Dead In Lehigh Valley Shooting Spree UPDATE: Gunman Among 2 Dead In Lehigh Valley Shooting Spree
Update: Gunman Among 2 Dead In Lehigh Valley Shooting Spree A gunman committed suicide after going on a shooting spree that killed a truck driver in Lehigh Valley Wednesday morning, authorities said. The gunman -- the driver of a white Toyota Corolla -- first opened fire at a vehicle driven by a woman on Route 22 near Cedar Crest Boulevard sometime around 4:50 a.m. in Upper Macungie Township, Lehigh County District Attorney James B. Martin said. The Toyota driver pulled into the Wawa parking lot and shot at a Jeep driver parked in the back, who suffered non life-threatening injuries, before shooting a tractor trailer driver pumping gas, killing…

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by Cecilia Levine
Lifestyle
Support Surges For Family Of Former Morristown Officer, Dad Of 3 Who Died Of Suicide Support Surges For Family Of Former Morristown Officer, Dad Of 3 Who Died Of Suicide
Support Surges For Family Of Former Morristown Officer, Dad Of 3 Who Died Of Suicide Support is surging for the family of a North Jersey marine, actor, police officer and father of three who died of suicide. Longtime Morris County resident Brett Smith, 53, died April 8 after a “brief but torturous” battle with mental illness, his obituary says. Described as a “Morristown guy through and through,” Smith graduated from the district and went on to pursue his dream of “becoming a star,” according to his memorial. In addition to accumulating more than 30 television and film credits, Smith enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and served in Desert Storm as part of the 2nd L…

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by Valerie Musson
News
Two Guns Found In Hands Of Driver, 76, Who Died Of Suicide Behind Hackensack Police HQ Two Guns Found In Hands Of Driver, 76, Who Died Of Suicide Behind Hackensack Police HQ
Two Guns Found In Hands Of Driver, 76, Who Died Of Suicide Behind Hackensack Police HQ DUAL WIELD: A 76-year-old Hackensack resident was holding two handguns when he shot and killed himself behind city police headquarters, authorities said Friday. A city employee spotted the victim slumped over the wheel of his 2020 Hyundai Elantra in the rear parking lot off Central Avenue around 6:50 p.m. Thursday, Lt. Anthony DiPersia said.  In his hands were two guns, DiPersia said. There were no indications of foul play, the lieutenant said. Responders said the man held a 9mm and a .45-caliber, which was the weapon that was believed used. The flash could be seen on surve…

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by Jerry DeMarco
News
Hackensack Man Found Dead Of Gunshot Suicide Behind Police HQ Hackensack Man Found Dead Of Gunshot Suicide Behind Police HQ
Hackensack Man Found Dead Of Gunshot Suicide Behind Police HQ DUAL WIELD: A 76-year-old Hackensack resident was holding two handguns when he shot and killed himself behind city police headquarters, authorities said Friday. A city employee spotted the victim slumped over the wheel of his 2020 Hyundai Elantra in the rear parking lot off Central Avenue around 6:50 p.m. Thursday, Lt. Anthony DiPersia said. In his hands were two guns, DiPersia said. There were no indications of foul play, the lieutenant said. Responders said the man held a 9mm and a .45-caliber, which was the weapon that was believed used. The flash could be seen on surveillance video, …

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by Jerry DeMarco
News
‘Daddy Killed Mommy’: Carlstadt Gunman In Murder-Suicide Told Daughter It Was Only A Dream ‘Daddy Killed Mommy’: Carlstadt Gunman In Murder-Suicide Told Daughter It Was Only A Dream
‘Daddy Killed Mommy’: Carlstadt Gunman In Murder-Suicide Told Daughter It Was Only A Dream UPDATE: The 5-year-old daughter of a convicted sex offender who died by suicide after an hours-long SWAT standoff at his Carlstadt home on Saturday was there when he shot and killed his ex-wife the night before, authorities said. The little girl apparently told her grandparents, who lived upstairs, that James Cox had killed Massiel Deoleo, 34, of Mahwah, in the downstairs apartment of the family's 6th Street home sometime Friday night. “Daddy killed Mommy,” she told them, but said Cox had assured her that it was only a nightmare, responders said. Police got the girl and the grandparents o…

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by Jerry DeMarco
News
SWAT STANDOFF: Two Dead As Carlstadt Sex Offender Shoots Ex-Wife, Himself SWAT STANDOFF: Two Dead As Carlstadt Sex Offender Shoots Ex-Wife, Himself
SWAT Standoff: Two Dead As Carlstadt Sex Offender Shoots Ex-Wife, Himself UPDATE: The 5-year-old daughter of a convicted sex offender who died by suicide after an hours-long SWAT standoff at his Carlstadt home on Saturday was there when he shot and killed his ex-wife the night before, authorities said. The little girl apparently told her grandparents, who lived upstairs, that James Cox had killed Massiel Deoleo, 34, of Mahwah, in the downstairs apartment of the family's 6th Street home sometime Friday night. “Daddy killed Mommy,” she told them, but said Cox had assured her that it was only a nightmare, responders said. Police got the girl and the grandparents o…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
UPDATE: Carbon Monoxide Suicide Eyed In Deaths Of Brothers Found In Old Tappan Garage UPDATE: Carbon Monoxide Suicide Eyed In Deaths Of Brothers Found In Old Tappan Garage
Update: Carbon Monoxide Suicide Eyed In Deaths Of Brothers Found In Old Tappan Garage Authorities were awaiting autopsy results to determine the official causes of death of two brothers whose bodies were found in the garage of the family’s Old Tappan home in an apparent double suicide. Insuh Yoon, 36, and David Yoon, 39, were in grade school when they emigrated to the United States with their mother from Seoul, South Korea more than 25 years ago. Their bodies were found early Friday in a Nissan Rogue parked in the garage of a home at the end of a heavily wooded cul-de-sac in Old Tappan near the Rockland County border, multiple responders said. They'd been in the SUV “more …

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by Jerry DeMarco