Manchester Fugitive Takes His Life, Ending Standoff In Toms River

Updated, 9 p.m. July 5

TOMS RIVER, NJ — A nearly seven-hour standoff with the fugitive in a Manchester Township slaying has ended in Toms River.

Maxwell A. Johnston, 35, of Manchester Township, who was wanted in connection with the June 27 slaying of Gabriella Caroleo, 25, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer and Toms River Police Chief Mitch Little said in a joint news release Friday night.

"We thank everyone in the neighborhood for their patience as this situation is concluded and there is no further danger to the public," Billhimer said.

"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. There were many tense moments and the men and women that were out there handled themselves professionally and thankfully none of them were injured,” Billhimer said.

Officers who were heavily armed and dressed in SWAT gear were departing about 7:45 p.m. from the streets surrounding 1905 Ravenwood Drive, where Johnston had been barricaded since early Friday afternoon.

A woman was taken from the home by ambulance but the prosecutor's office did not mention her in the brief news release Friday night.

Authorities evacuated surrounding homes during the standoff and told people to stay away from the neighborhood.

"There are currently multiple law-enforcement agencies and first responders in the area of Ravenwood Drive in Toms River for an active shooter situation," Toms River police said in a statement issued about 5:30 p.m. "All residents in the immediate area have been evacuated and law-enforcement personnel have the suspect contained at this time."

"We’re asking people to avoid the area and pray for the safety of all on the scene," police said.

About 2 p.m. Friday Little confirmed there had been a shooting but said there were no injuries at that time. He said Toms River police were assisting the U.S. Marshals Service with an arrest.

The Ocean County Sheriff's Office had issued an alert telling people to stay away from the area of Ravenwood Drive because of the police presence.

"Do not approach this area," the alert issued at 1:45 p.m. said.

News 12 reported additional shots were fired around 5 p.m.

Caroleo was found with a gunshot wound to the stomach when Manchester police responded on June 27 to a 4:55 p.m. report of a shooting in the area of Ridgeway Road and Hope Chapel Road near Ridgeway Liquors, authorities said. She was flown to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune but succumbed to her injuries, they said.

Investigators determined Johnston was the person responsible for Caroleo's death, authorities said. They did not provide details on what led them to him. Authorities listed Caroleo's hometown as Seaside Heights, but family members said she had been living in Barnegat. Caroleo is survived by her son and extended family, according to her obituary.

Related: Woman Slain In Manchester Remembered As Independent, Good-Hearted

Johnston, who had been sought since the shooting, had been charged with murder and weapons offenses, with Billhimer announcing the charges July 3 and stating Johnston was a fugitive. Read more: Fugitive Sought In Fatal Shooting Of Woman, 25, In Manchester

The following agencies were involved: 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 Marshals Service for their cooperative assistance with this situation. Also present at the scene were Manchester Township Police and Lakewood Emergency Medical Services.