Richard Michael Gato (Photo: TRPD)
A retired police officer from Bergen County is behind bars at the Ocean County Jail after shooting another man at his Toms River home, authorities said.
Toms River officers were called to 400 Kettle Creek Road, Unit 10, at about 10 p.m. Feb. 8, for a report of a shooting, said police spokesman Ralph Stocco. The arriving officers found Robert Oleynick, 34, of Toms River with a gunshot wound to the chest, Stocco said. Oleynick was airlifted to Jersey Shore Medical Center for medical treatment where he remains in stable condition.
Detectives from Toms River police and the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office’s Major Crimes Unit found that the shooting event took place earlier in the evening at Gato’s Margaret Drive residence. It was determined the Oleynick was at that address looking for a friend when he encountered Gato, a retired Fort Lee Police Officer, outside Gato’s residence.
“The encounter resulted in a physical altercation between the two men that led to Oleynick being shot in his left chest by Gato,” said Stocco.
As part of the investigation, a search warrant was approved for video from 46 Margaret Court that had captured the entire event, said Stocco. The video review would ultimately lead to the attempted murder and weapons charges.
