South Jersey School Crossing Guard Shoots Wife, Kills Self: Cops

A South Jersey school crossing guard shot his wife in the chest Wednesday before turning the gun on himself and commiting suicide, leaving a community in shock, authorities said.

Gregory Martin, 57, of Edgewater Park shot his wife multiple times before taking his own life inside of their residence early this morning, according to the Burlington County Prosecutor's Office. He was employed as a crossing guard near the Mildred Magowan Elementary School in the township.

In the aftermath of the tragedy, Edgewater Park Police Chief Gene J. Di Filippo sought to reassure residents that the community is safe. He said it was the second incident involving a shooting in the township within the past two months.

"Although these incidents are disturbing and even scary to realize that they happen so close to our homes, I want to remind everyone not to be quick to judge our township's overall public safety based on these events," he said.

The shooting happened around 1 a.m. when Edgewater Park Township police officers responded to the 200 block of Roosevelt Avenue and found Michelle Moses-Martin, 46, outside with gunshot wounds to her chest, according to the BCPO.

Her husband, Gregory Martin, emerged briefly on the front porch of their residence before going back inside, according to the BCPO.

Members of the New Jersey State Police Technical Emergency and Mission Specialists Unit entered the house at approximately 3 a.m. and discovered that Gregory Martin had committed suicide with a firearm, according to the BCPO.

Michelle Moses-Martin was transported to Cooper University Hospital in Camden where, after undergoing surgery, she is listed in critical but stable condition, according to the BCPO.

It is believed that Gregory Martin took his life shortly after returning into the residence. The motive for the shooting is being investigated.

Gregory Martin was retired from the New Jersey Department of Corrections, and worked as a crossing guard near his home. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to Mrs. Martin and we would be on the lookout for any student concerns (about the crossing guard) and offer any needed support,” township school superintendent Roy Rakszawski was quoted as saying in The Courier Post.

Di Filippo said the incident involved people who "knew each other and had disagreements with one another, ultimately resulting in the use of a firearm and extreme violence as a means to solve their disagreement."

"These incidents WERE NOT drive-by shootings, random acts of violence by unknown subjects, results of gang activity, results of large gatherings committing violent acts, unsolved violent crimes, violent crimes occurring in a consistent location, or some other type of violent act that occurred towards residents of our town who did not know the assailant(s)," he wrote on Facebook.

Neighbor Jennifer James, who lives across the street, told The Courier Post that she was not well acquainted with the Martins, who had moved to the neighborhood two years ago. They exchanged pleasantries when they saw one another on the dead-end street abutting a park.

"We don't know what happened with the man. It never seemed to us anything was wrong," James told the publication.

Police, medics, and SWAT units were called to the scene, according to ABC6.. Shortly after 4 a.m., the situation ended.

After paramedics transported one gunshot victim to the hospital, police set up a two-block perimeter around the home, according to CBS3. A state SWAT team arrived to try to communicate with a person believed to be inside.

This is a developing story. Patch will update when details become available.

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