Manalapan Man Charged With Reckless Manslaughter

A Manalapan man has been charged with reckless manslaughter in connection with the November death of a 27-year-old Howell man in Atlantic County, authorities said.

According to a news release from Atlantic County Prosecutor Jim McClain:

At 1:19 a.m. on November 1, emergency workers were called to Harrah’s Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City for a report of an injury caused by a fall.

Thomas J. Walker, 27, of Howell, was taken to AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center—City Division with a head injury, and he died there on Nov. 15.

After a nine-month investigation Matthew J. Piazza, 25, of Candeub Court, Manalapan, was indicted Wednesday on a charge of reckless manslaughter.

Investigators determined Piazza punched the victim while they were inside the casino. That punched caused his head injury and subsequent death.

An autopsy determined cause of his death was a head injury, and the manner was homicide.

Piazza surrendered to Major Crimes Unit detectives at the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office in Mays Landing Thursday.

He was sent to in the Atlantic County Justice Facility with bail set at $100,000.

Chief Assistant Prosecutor Seth Levy is handling the case for the state.