Man kills Jamaican wife and her parents in murder-suicide in New Jersey

The police in Berkeley Township, New Jersey in the United States are probing what investigators believe is a murder-suicide in which a man chased and fatally shot his Jamaican wife and gunned down her Jamaican parents inside their home, before turning the gun on himself.

The couple’s three children were inside the house at the time but were not harmed, said Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer, in a media statement posted to the office’s Facebook account.

The deceased have been identified as Vaughn Stewart, 37, of Maplewood, who killed 38-year-old Deonna Stewart, and the woman’s parents, Allan Russell, 61, and Michelle Russell, 60.

In the statement, Billhimer outlined that on March 10, 2026, at approximately 5:00 a.m., officers from the Berkeley Township Police Department responded to a residence on Fairwood Drive for a report of shots fired.

He said responding Officers observed a man entering the residence and that they heard additional gunfire from inside the dwelling.

The Ocean County Regional SWAT Team made entry into the residence.

“Upon entry, officers observed two victims deceased from apparent gunshot wounds. The victims were later identified as the homeowners, Allan Russell, 61, and Michelle Russell, 60. Also located at the residence were three unharmed minor children.”

It was further indicated that as officers continued to clear the residence, they discovered a man, later identified as Vaughn Stewart, with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to his head.

Stewart was transported to Community Medical Center in Toms River, where he was eventually pronounced deceased.

Billhimer said several officers on the scene began to broaden the perimeter of their investigation, which led to officers discovering multiple shell casings and locating a third victim, identified as Deonna Stewart, approximately 50 yards from the residence on the side of Fairwood Drive.

“Vaughn Stewart and Deonna Stewart were the parents of three children and had been living separately.”

Billhimer said further investigation revealed that Vaughn Stewart entered the residence and shot Mr and Mrs Russell.

Vaughn Stewart then chased Deonna Stewart down the street, fired multiple shots, and killed her, he added.

He said Vaughn Stewart subsequently re-entered the residence and turned the gun on himself.

Billhimer said the children are currently in the care of the Department of Child Protection and Permanency.

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