TOMS RIVER — A more than six-hour armed standoff between a fugitive and law enforcement officers has ended Friday night at a Ravenwood Drive home near Toms River High School East, according to authorities.
The U.S. Marshals Service, which apprehends suspects in federal crimes and pursues interstate fugitives, was on the scene to execute a warrant, according to the Toms River Police Department. Additionally, a large presence of local and county law enforcement officers assembled at a staging area at the corner of Red Cedar Street and Huckleberry Lane. Among them, a SWAT team was also on the scene with snipers taking defensive positions with their weapons trained on a particular house.
Just after 6:30 p.m., an armored vehicle could be seen appearing to prepare to ram the front of the home. About 45 minutes later, a woman with red hair emerged from the house with her hands in the air with the officers continuing to remain in position in front of the home after she was hustled away.
The standoff ended about 7:45 p.m. when stun grenades were deployed into the home, followed by a dozen SWAT officers in two teams who rushed in and exited a short time later with their weapons lowered. A short time after, authorities confirmed that the standoff was over. The fate of the suspect has not been immediately confirmed.
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The Sheriff’s Office, which often works closely with the Marshals Service, had issued text alerts to the public starting early on Friday afternoon, instructing people to “not approach this area.”
Jennifer Santana of Toms River, the aunt of a 25-year-old Seaside Heights woman who was murdered in Manchester on June 27, said that the suspect wanted in connection with the fatal shooting was the fugitive inside the Ravenwood Drive home on Friday.
“I live right around the block from the house,” Santana said.
Authorities have been searching for a 35-year-old Manchester man accused of slaying Gabriella Caroleo.
Maxwell Johnston has been charged with murder and weapons offenses in the shooting of Caroleo of Seaside Heights, according to Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer and Manchester Police Chief Antonio Ellis.
Santana stood with about a half dozen family members and friends of Caroleo on the perimeter of the scene Friday, waiting for a resolution to the standoff and ultimately justice. They were wearing T-shirts with the image of the victim on the front and the words “Always and Forever in Our Hearts” on the back.
The Prosecutor’s Office had not confirmed Friday evening the identity of the person inside the home.
This is a developing story. Stay with app.com for updates.
Contact Asbury Park Press reporter Erik Larsen at elarsen@gannettnj.com.
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Standoff on Ravenwood Drive in Toms River ends
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