Shooting Death of Hero New Jersey Police Officer Remains Tragic Mystery

The shooting death of a hero New Jersey police officer - who once saved an 83-year-old man in a fire - remained a tragic mystery Tuesday as the public awaited details to be released regarding the shooting.

Speculation regarding the cause of death swirled in social media as the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office declined to even name the officer, even as various media reports identified him as Detective Matthew Kurtz of Sayreville.

Autopsy results are pending following the Monday morning shooting death of the off-duty Sayreville, N.J. police officer just off the Garden State Parkway, according to authorities. The officer was killed next to the abandoned Amboy Cinemas in Sayreville, according to the MCPO.

The officer was shot and killed while sitting in his personal vehicle, according to NBC 4 New York.

A Facebook page belonging to a Matthew Kurtz of Sayreville used the "Thin Blue Line" symbol, which recognizes fallen officers, as its profile photo. Many of Kurtz's friends on the page also posted the symbol on their own profile photos.

But the Facebook page, and other Internet sources, portrayed Kurtz as a beloved police officer with a strong friend-and-family support system who was promoted and decorated for acts of heroism in the line of duty.

Kurtz was honored last year for helping to rescue an an 83-year-old man from a house fire in December 2014, according to mcentraljersey.com. Kurtz and another police officer entered through the rear door of the burning Main Street structure to pull Sayreville resident Max Klitzke to safety, according to the report.

Last year, Kurtz, Sayreville Police Sgt. Kevin Connors and officer Douglas Gumprecht were presented with valor awards from the 200 Club of Middlesex County at the organization's 42nd annual banquet at the Pines Manor, Route 27, Edison, according to mycentraljersey.com.

In November, Kurtz received his gold shield and was transferred to the Sayreville Police Department's Investigation Division. "Congratulations Detective Kurtz!" the department said in its announcement on the its Facebook page (see photo).

Kurtz, 34, was a 9-year veteran who was sworn in as an officer in 2007. He was 25 when he was sworn in.

Kurtz was married to the former Jamie Mackiel of South Amboy and was a graduate of St. Mary's Regional High School in South Amboy, according to another mycentraljersey.com report.

According to the report, journalists attempted to interview neighbors who were too heartbroken to speak:

"One woman, in tears, was clearly heartbroken for her neighbor across the street as she asked for the family to be left in peace. Another woman took a tougher stance, telling people to leave the area. Several times an hour, either a fire department or police vehicle or both would patrol the street."

Kurtz previously worked as a maintenance technician at Our Lady of Victories Church, Sayreville. He had a bachelor of arts degree in criminal justice from the University of Scranton, according to reports.