South Toms River, NJ – A late-night police encounter regarding an alleged domestic incident escalated into a reported shootout on Tuesday, April 29, leaving a suspect wounded and now facing multiple murder charges, according to records on file wih the Ocean County Jail. The incident unfolded around 9:49 p.m., triggering a multi-agency investigation that remains active.
Update: The New Jersey Office of the Attorney General’s OPIA (Office of Public Integrity and Accountability) has transferred the case back to the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office.
Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said the shooting involved law enforcement and was non-fatal, but confirmed it is being treated as a serious use-of-force case under state guidelines. The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit and the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit are leading the investigation.
The prosecutor’s office did not identify the suspsect, saying the police involved shooting is being handled by the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General.
However, local charges have been filed against the shooter, idtenfied as a Toms River firefighter, Brian J. Lanzim, of the Toms River Fire Deapartment. Lanzim also served with the South Toms River EMS as an officer. He works as an EMT for RJW Barnabas Health, according to his LinkedIn profile.
“He just lost it,” said one person close to the incident.
Charges filed following shooting
Authorities have filed an extensive list of charges against Lanzim in connection with the shooting, including multiple counts of murder, criminal attempted conduct, and making threats to kill. Additional charges include home invasion burglary, unlawful possession of weapons, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and unlawful use of body armor. While he faces multiple counts of murder, there were no deaths reported and the details of the incident remain unclear as local, county and state law enforcement officials have released little to no information on the incident.
Court records show the defendant is being held in the Ocean County Jail without bail following a May 4 commitment.
While prosecutors have not detailed how the shooting unfolded, the scope of charges indicates investigators believe the shooting was part of a broader, violent sequence of events.
Prosecutor limits public details
Billhimer emphasized that no further specifics will be released at this stage due to New Jersey Attorney General Directive No. 2006-5, which governs investigations involving police use of force.
“No further information may be released at this time,” the prosecutor’s office said in a statement, noting that a full public report will be issued once the investigation is complete and approved at the state level. That directive applies only to the investigation into the police use of force and not into the investigation of the crimes committed by the suspect.
He was also identified as a “Fire Police membe” of the Toms River Fire Co #1.
“Brian has been with us for several years in the roles of Firefighter, Fire Police and now Corporate Quarter Master. Brian has been an asset to the company and continues to juggle his full time job, family and firehouse family. If you see Brian out and about,” a message posted by the department in 2023 read on Facebook.
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Key Points
• Police-involved shooting reported April 29 in South Toms River around 9:49 p.m.
• Suspect faces multiple murder, weapons, and home invasion charges
• Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office and Sheriff’s CSI Unit leading investigation
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