WOODBRIDGE, NJ — A state grand jury has declined to bring charges against three police officers involved in the fatal shooting of a New York man at a Woodbridge hotel, following a year-long investigation into the deadly June 13 encounter.
Karl Gregory, 46, of New York City, was shot and killed in the lobby of the Royal Albert’s Palace Hotel shortly after midnight during an exchange of gunfire with officers from the Woodbridge Police Department and the New York City Police Department. The grand jury voted “no bill” on Thursday, ending the criminal inquiry into the officers’ use of deadly force.
The New Jersey Office of Public Integrity and Accountability led the investigation, which involved reviewing hotel surveillance footage, body-worn camera video, forensic evidence, and autopsy findings. Evidence showed that officers had responded to the hotel after Gregory’s vehicle was identified by a license plate reader as being connected to a violent shooting in New York.
Police located Gregory’s unoccupied car on the night of June 12 in the hotel parking lot. The following day, NYPD detectives arrived in New Jersey and briefed local officers on the open investigation tied to Gregory. Around 12:21 a.m., surveillance footage showed Gregory stepping off a hotel elevator with multiple bags. Officers reported that he dropped the bags and reached into a backpack, drawing a handgun as they ordered him to stop.
A 20-second exchange of gunfire followed between Gregory and three officers — Woodbridge Officers Drew Krupinski and Justin Nerney, and NYPD Detective Matthew Mauro. Gregory was struck and pronounced dead at 12:42 a.m. A handgun found near him was ballistically matched to shell casings at the scene. Ammunition was later recovered from his backpack and car.
Two officers, Nerney and Mauro, were shot and hospitalized with injuries sustained during the incident. Both have since recovered.
The state’s Independent Prosecutor Directive requires all fatal police encounters be presented to a grand jury. After reviewing all available evidence and hearing testimony, jurors concluded that no criminal charges were warranted in the case.
Key Points
- A New Jersey grand jury declined to charge officers in the fatal shooting of Karl Gregory at a Woodbridge hotel
- Gregory was wanted in connection with a New York City shooting and was killed after allegedly drawing a handgun on officers
- Two officers were injured during the exchange of gunfire and later recovered
A deadly hotel confrontation ended with no charges for the officers involved after grand jury review.