Off-Duty Corrections Officer Shoots, Kills Man At His NJ Home

HAMILTON TOWNSHIP, N.J. (AP) — The Mercer County Homicide Task Force is investigating an early morning shooting involving an off-duty corrections officer in Hamilton, NJ.

The officer, who was not identified, told police he shot a man who was trying to get into his Vicky Court home around 4 a.m. Saturday.

Officers arrived to find Dominic Neal with a critical gunshot wound to the head lying by the front steps.

"This is like right here, right around the corner here, so it was a little scary," said neighbor Cindy Van Hise.

Detectives interviewed the homeowner, who said he went out to his front porch to smoke between 3:30 and 4 a.m.

The off-duty corrections officer told police he saw Neal coming up the walkway in a black hoodie with his head down, with one hand on his waistband and the other reaching for the door. The officer said he shouted at Neal to stop and when he didn't, the officer fired three to four shots through the storm door, striking Neal once.

"I didn't hear anything at all, no commotions or anything," Van Hise said.

Officers found Neal's car a block away, near the intersection of Buchanan and McClellan Avenues.

Investigators said the homeowner's girlfriend was inside the house and did have a domestic violence restraining order against Neal.

Medics rushed Neal to Capital Health Regional Medical Center Fuld Campus, where he later died.

A woman cleaning up the front yard of the home on Vicky Court said that a tragedy occurred and that the family had no further comment.

No charges have been filed.