Berkeley Township, Police Department Face Civil Lawsuit After Drake Drive Shooting
The lawsuit alleges Berkeley Township officials failed to act despite prior warning signs before a neighborhood shooting that critically injured a husband and wife.
BERKELEY TOWNSHIP — A civil lawsuit stemming from a Berkeley Township shooting that left a husband and wife critically injured is moving forward against the township and police department, months after authorities identified neighbor John Adamo as the gunman.
According to the lawsuit, Thomas Kwatkoski, Jill Kwatkoski, and a minor family member seek damages from the Estate of John Adamo, Berkeley Township, and the Berkeley Police Department in connection with the March 10 shooting on Drake Drive. The complaint alleges public entities and other defendants failed to take actions that could have prevented the violence.
Key Points
• Husband and wife were critically injured in a March shooting in Berkeley Township.
• Authorities identified neighbor John Adamo as the gunman before he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
• A civil lawsuit seeks damages from Adamo’s estate, Berkeley Township, and the Berkeley Police Department.
Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer previously announced that Berkeley Township police responded to a Drake Drive residence at approximately 4:45 p.m. on March 10 after receiving a 911 call reporting two gunshot victims. Officers found a husband and wife suffering from gunshot wounds and both were airlifted to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune in critical but stable condition.
At the time, the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office issued a press release
Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that on March 10, 2025, at approximately 4:45 p.m., the Berkeley Township Police Department received a 911 call in reference to two gunshot victims at a residence on Drake Drive. Responding Officers discovered a male and female victim each suffering from a gunshot wound; the victims are husband and wife. Both victims were airlifted to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune where they are each listed in critical but stable condition.A subsequent investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit and Berkeley Township Police Department revealed that the victims had been shot by their next door neighbor, John Adamo, 54. It was also learned that Adamo shot the male victim while he was located outside of the neighboring residence, and then shot into neighboring residence – striking the female victim. Adamo then retreated into his own residence. The Ocean County Regional SWAT Team and the Ocean County Regional SWAT-Crisis Negotiating Team responded and surrounded Adamo’s residence in an attempt to have him surrender. After approximately two and one-half hours, SWAT Team members made entry into the residence and found Adamo in an upstairs bedroom – deceased from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. Members of the SWAT Team also observed a pressure cooker inside the bedroom. At that time, neighboring residences were evacuated for safety concerns. The New Jersey State Police Bomb Squad entered the residence and determined the pressure cooker was not an explosive.
Investigators determined that Adamo, 54, shot the male victim while he was outside his residence and then fired into the neighboring home, striking the female victim. Authorities said Adamo subsequently retreated into his own residence as law enforcement officers responded to the scene.
Standoff ended with gunman’s death
The Ocean County Regional SWAT Team and Crisis Negotiating Team surrounded Adamo’s home and attempted to negotiate his surrender. After approximately two and a half hours, tactical officers entered the residence and found Adamo dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
During the operation, officers observed what appeared to be a pressure cooker device inside the home, prompting evacuations of neighboring residences. The New Jersey State Police Bomb Squad later determined the item was not an explosive device.
Civil claims proceed
The underlying lawsuit alleges the plaintiffs suffered serious injuries and damages as a result of the shooting. The action names Adamo’s estate as well as Berkeley Township and the Berkeley Police Department among the defendants.
A related declaratory judgment action filed by North Light Specialty Insurance Company seeks a court ruling regarding insurance coverage obligations connected to the claims asserted in the civil litigation.
According to the complaint, the coverage dispute stems from a lawsuit filed in Ocean County Superior Court on May 8. That underlying action, captioned Thomas Kwatkoski, et al. v. The Estate of John Adamo, et al., alleges that Adamo used a firearm on March 10 to shoot at Thomas Kwatkoski, Jill Kwatkoski and T.K., a minor.
The insurance company states that it issued a policy that may be implicated by claims asserted in the underlying litigation. Through the declaratory judgment action, North Light Specialty Insurance Company is seeking a judicial determination regarding whether coverage exists and whether it has any duty to defend or indemnify parties named in the lawsuit.
The allegations raised in the lawsuit have not been proven in court. The civil matter remains pending in Ocean County Superior Court.