Posted on 04/10/2002 7:14:44 PM PDT by WhiteOwl
COP WANTED FOR MURDERS IS DEAD Wed Apr 10, 5:31 PM ET By John Curran, Associated Press Writer
DOVER TOWNSHIP, N.J. (AP) - A police officer shot five neighbors to death and wounded his boss, then committed suicide, shocking a seaside community still reeling from an almost identical rampage in February.
Photos
AP Photo Slideshows
AP Photo N.J. Officer Kills Five, Self Audio/Video Police Search For Veteran Cop Who Went On Shooting Rampage In NJ (WABC, New York)
Authorities said Wednesday that Seaside Heights Officer Edward Lutes, 42, had apparently feuded with some of his neighbors in Dover Township. The authorities did not elaborate.
"There was a great deal of acrimony between Mr. Lutes and his neighbors," prosecutor Greg Sakowicz said. "Certainly, it wasn't a random shooting."
Some acquaintances portrayed him as the neighborhood grouch and said he had gone through bankruptcy several years ago and had lost his girlfriend in a car accident about a year ago.
Lutes went on his rampage with a handgun and a semiautomatic assault gun called an MP5. He shot himself in the head in his car outside a Barnegat Township home not far from where he shot his boss Tuesday night. The body of the 15-year police veteran was found Wednesday morning.
"It's a tragedy of the highest order," said William Polhemes, a former Seaside Heights police chief who knew Lutes.
The shootings happened just a mile from where a retired Newark police officer, John Mabie, allegedly went from house to house, killing his granddaughter and three neighbors Feb. 21. He has pleaded innocent.
"To do something like that, they snap," said Karen Picht, who decided to walk her 12-year-old daughter to a bus stop Wednesday morning as the manhunt was still under way.
Police said Lutes went to the home of neighbors Dominick Galliano, 51, and his wife, Gail, 49, killing them with the assault weapon. He also killed the couple's son, 25-year-old Christopher.
Lutes then went to another home and killed Gary Williams, 48, and his wife, Tina, 46. The couple's 23-year-old son jumped out of a window.
Lutes fled in his car to Barnegat Township and shot Seaside Heights Police Chief James Costello in the leg and the wrist. Police said the chief was leaving his home at the time after hearing about the shootings.
Costello was in satisfactory condition. From his hospital room, he said he could not explain the rampage: "I really don't know. He's a very close friend of mine."
Dover Township Police Chief Michael Mastronardy said Lutes and a neighbor were involved in an Oct. 30 criminal mischief case. He would not give details.
However, 16-year-old neighbor Christine Woldanski said Lutes told a group of kids that night to throw eggs at homes of two of his enemies. She said Lutes told them: "If you guys don't do it, I'm going to do it later."
The kids decided not to throw the eggs, Woldanski said. She said Lutes left the house and came back later with blood on his hand.
Thomas Aballo, a lawyer who represented Lutes and his father in separate bankruptcy filings several years ago, said the shootings took him by surprise. He recalled Lutes discussing problems with a department supervisor several years ago, but said the officer did not pursue any legal action against the police.
"I never got the indication of anything but a dedicated officer and an overall good guy," Aballo said.
Seaside Heights Fire Chief Reece Fisher, who had known Lutes since the 1980s, said the officer was devastated when his girlfriend was killed. "He was able to come back to the job, but who is to say what was going on inside of him?" Fisher said.
Neighbors said Lutes lived with his 12-year-old daughter and other family members.
"He used to walk his dog down the street, and he'd say hello. He wouldn't go by without saying hello," Steve Rizzolo said.
Other neighbors described Lutes as a disciplinarian, saying he set strict rules about when the children in his house could eat snacks, how they could wash their hands and what toys they could play with. "He'd stand with his mean face, just watering his lawn like he was having a bad, bad day, always," said Cara Reilly, 20.
Off Capster?
If only a civilian had one of these before the guy got five people. Talk about crime rouge cop control.
I believe the folks he went after were the asshole who exposed himself to his (the cop's) daughter and the people who were character witnesses for said asshole. Needless to say said asshole got a pass.
Damn shame.
What is that going to accomplish? Its not like you are going to be able to stop the attack while you are disarmed by your state government.
I'm with you.
And, oh BTW, I live not more than ten minutes from this and the other Toms River shooting some weeks ago. Apparently there may really be "something in the water" here.
You are correct, however, that mere plebian citizens are not allowed to buy recently imported versions of such weapons.
The MP-5 in the picture is NOT semiautomatic only.
I swear the media is so stupid on guns that they are actually more intimidated by the thought of a "semiautomatic" then they are are of a full on machinegun.
HEAR THE TRUTH.
* George Washington Said "Only put Americans on guard tonight. *
In 1987 only eight states had Concealed Carry Weapon (CCW). Today you can count 33 states with shall issue CCW, and 11 states with may issue.
Then we have the six states with no issue. However of the six states, OH, MO, WI, MN, and KS are working hard and have bills pending. OH is closest with MO, WI, and KS closest to passing a CCW law. Illinois NRA grass roots group is dead at the morge on th CCW issue.
Semper Fi
end
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.