Still No Answers In Ocean County SWAT Team Shooting Of Former NYPD Lieutenant

by Patricia A. Miller

If you're looking for answers about why a former NYPD lieutenant was shot and killed by an Ocean County SWAT team on Saturday night, there won't be any coming today.

"We have nothing new to report at this time," said state Attorney General's Office spokesman Paul Aseltine. "The investigation is ongoing.

The agency's Shooting Response Team is investigating the fatal police-involved shooting in Little Egg Harbor Township last Saturday night..

Patrick Fennell, 57, Sycamore Avenue, was shot by members of the Ocean County SWAT after police responded to a 10:30 p.m. call from his wife, who said her husband was acting strangely, spokesman Paul Loriquet said Sunday.

"She reported that he was in the basement of their home, where he had weapons, and she thought she heard gunfire," he said.

Local police arrived and called for assistance from the county SWAT team. Fennell came out of the residence when the SWAT team arrived and fled into a wooded area. Police officers reported that they saw Fennell holding a handgun when he came out of the residence, Loriquet said.

The SWAT teams spread and contained Fennell in a wooded area. Officers confronted Fennell — who allegedly was still armed with the handgun — at roughly 10:30 p.m.

"An officer or officers from the SWAT team fired multiple rounds, striking Fennell," Loriquet said. "Police recovered a handgun at the scene of the shooting. Fennell died at the scene."

Little Egg police warned residents on Saturday night in the areas of Harbourtown Estates and Cedarbrook Lane to stay inside and lock their doors. They were also asked to report any suspicious or unusual activity to police, according to a Little Egg Harbor Nixle alert.

The Ocean County Prosecutor's Office is not handling the matter due to a conflict, spokesman Al Della Fave said.