'Emotionally Disturbed' Man Fatally Shot as He Attacked Officer, Attorney General Says

An investigation is ongoing into the fatal shooting of a South Brunswick man by a member of the Middlesex County Special Operations Response Team Wednesday night.

Andrew Murnieks, 28, of 8 Hannah Drive in Dayton, was fatally wounded by a gunshot to the chest at about 10:30 p.m. by a police officer who was attacked by Murnieks, according to the Attorney General’s Office.   

At about 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, South Brunswick Police were dispatched to the residence after receiving a report of an emotionally disturbed person. As officers arrived, Murnieks’ mother told police that her son is a schizophrenic and hadn't been taking his medication, according to the Attorney General. Police had also previously responded to prior incidents at the home involving Andrew Murnieks.  

When officers approached Murnieks to speak with him, he "opened the front door and raised a large knife above his head in a threatening manner," the Attorney General's Office said. 

The officers then retreated from the door and called the Middlesex County Special Operations Response Team, who arrived soon thereafter and assumed control of the situation.

After repeated efforts to resolve the situation by a crisis negotiator proved to be fruitless over a period of several hours, members of the Special Operations Response Team entered the residence about 10:30 p.m., according to the Attorney General.

Murnieks then assaulted one of the officers, who fired a single shot from his service weapon, which struck Murnieks in the chest, according to authorities.  Murnieks was treated at the scene by paramedics and was then transported to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, where he was produced dead at 11:35 p.m.

The incident remains under investigation by the Attorney General’s Shooting Response Team.