The identities of the injured officers and suspect killed in a shootout with authorities Thursday morning in Woodbridge were released by the New Jersey Attorney General’s office Friday afternoon.
The suspect killed by police in the incident was identified as Karl Gregory, 46, of New York, New York, authorities said. The two officers injured were Woodbridge Police Officer Justin Nerney and New York Police Detective Matthew Mauro, officials said.
The shooting took place early Thursday morning at the Royal Albert’s Palace hotel in Woodbridge as authorities searched for Gregory, who was a suspect in a fatal shooting in New York City.
On Wednesday, investigators from the New York City Police Department were searching for Gregory when an Automatic License Plate Reader in Woodbridge near the hotel on King Georges Post road identified his car in the area Wednesday night, officials said.
Police from Edison and Woodbridge responded to the hotel and found Gregory’s car unoccupied in the parking lot, authorities said. The NYPD was notified about the car and responded to the scene where police from Woodbridge were briefed about the criminal investigation in New York, the Attorney General’s Office said.
At 12:21 a.m. Thursday, Woodbridge officers Drew Krupinski and Nerney, along with Detective Mauro from the NYPD were in the lobby of the hotel interviewing someone when officials said the elevator doors opened and Gregory exited into the lobby holding multiple bags.
According to a preliminary investigation, Gregory dropped the bags when he saw the officers and reached into a black backpack when an exchange of gunfire took place between Gregory, Krupinski, Nerney and Mauro.
Nerney, Mauro and Gregory were struck during the exchange, authorities said. Medical aid was provided to Gregory immediately following the shooting, but he was declared dead at the scene and a handgun was recovered near him, officials said.
Multiple shell casings were also recovered from the scene and will be compared to all of the firearms discharged at the scene, authorities said.
Nerney and Mauro suffered gunshot wounds and were transported to a New Brunswick hospital for treatment, according to authorities. Mauro was released Thursday and Nerney was released Friday, officials said.
A manager at the hotel and banquet hall was not available to answer questions or provide comment Friday evening.
No further information on the incident or investigation was provided Friday. It remains under investigation by the Attorney General’s Office under a 2019 law that mandates an investigation into any civilian death while interacting with law enforcement.
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Matthew Enuco may be reached at Menuco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow Matt on X.
