Allan Russell and Michelle Russell die in fatal Berkeley Township, New Jersey shooting
Fatal Berkeley Township, New Jersey shooting death of Allan Russell and Michelle Russell – Obituary
Authorities say a tragic shooting inside a Berkeley Township home early Tuesday morning left two homeowners dead after a gunman opened fire inside their residence.
Police were called around 5:00 a.m. to a house on Fairwood Drive in the Bayville section of Berkeley Township after reports of gunfire. When officers arrived, they observed a man entering the home and soon heard additional shots coming from inside.
A regional SWAT team later entered the residence where they discovered Allan Russell, 61, and Michelle Russell, 60, both suffering from fatal gunshot wounds. The married couple was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators determined that the shooter, Vaughn Stewart, 37, of Maplewood, had entered the home and shot both Allan and Michelle Russell. After the attack, authorities say Stewart chased Deonna Stewart, 38, who lived at the home with her parents and three children, down the street and shot her multiple times before returning to the residence and taking his own life.
Police confirmed that three children were inside the home at the time of the violence but were not harmed. Following the incident, the children were placed in the care of the New Jersey Department of Child Protection and Permanency.
Court records revealed that Vaughn Stewart had recently been arrested in Union County on charges that included terroristic threats and simple assault. Those charges had been moved to prosecutors as a potential indictable offense shortly after his arrest.
The investigation into the deadly shootings remains ongoing as authorities continue to review the circumstances surrounding the incident.
