Police signed murder charges Saturday against a 19-year-old man they accuse of fatally shooting a New Jersey police officer who had driven up beside him and started to question him.
A massive manhunt is under way for Jahmell W. Crockam, who is charged with killing Lakewood Patrolman Christopher Matlosz on Friday. Ocean County Prosecutor Marlene Lynch Ford said Crockam is known by the street name “Sav” - short for “Savage.”
A Superior Court Judge set bail for Crockam at $5 million cash once he is arrested.
Authorities say the 27-year-old Matlosz drove up to Crockam as Crockam was walking and began speaking with him in a nonconfrontational manner when the suspect suddenly stepped back, pulled out a handgun and shot the officer three times.
More than 100 local, county, state and federal officers completed a house-to-house search overnight in the neighborhood where the shooting occurred, at times barging into homes at gunpoint and ordering inhabitants to get on the floor.
Ford warned the public that Crockam is considered armed and dangerous.
“We have to assume he's armed and he's not disinclined to use that fatal, lethal weapon if he feels threatened,” she said.
A reward for the suspect's capture is now up to $125,000.
Even before the officer's shooting, Crockam was being sought on illegal weapons charges. On Dec. 29, the prosecutor's office obtained an arrest warrant for him on charges of possessing an illegal rifle and hollow-point bullets.
Authorities would not say what type of ammunition was used in the officer's killing.
A murder weapon has not yet been recovered, Ford said.
Matlosz had just transferred off the midnight shift a week ago. He was engaged to be married next year to Kelly Walsifer. Police say rushed to the hospital where he died less than an hour after being shot. Walsifer released the following statement Sunday night.
"I'm not sure of the words to describe my loss, but Chris was my best friend and soul mate. We did everything together. In the last four years, we both lived our life to the fullest. He was my life and my world. He made me laugh, he made others laugh and we have been surrounded by the best of friends and coworkers throughout our time together. He just lost his father and now it brings me some peace to know, that he is with him."
Matlosz was conducting “a routine stop” of the suspect, chatting with him for a few minutes, Ford said, leading authorities to believe the two may have been acquainted with each other before the shooting.
“What was a routine stop, a routine conversation suddenly turned deadly,” she said.
While the suspect fled on foot, a neighbor called 911 just after 4 p.m. to report an officer down. Matlosz was rushed to Jersey Shore University Medical Center, where he died in the trauma unit.
He is also survived by his mother and a brother.
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