PHOTO: UPDATED: A man died at a Lakewood shooting range this afternoon in an apparent suicide, officials confirm to TLS.
The man was found with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head at the Shore Shore Pistol Range shortly before 3 p.m.
MONOC Paramedics pronounced the man dead shortly thereafter.
Detective Sergeant Greg Staffordsmith said the man was a 32-year-old NJ State Corrections Officer from Woodbridge, though his current employment status was not known.
Lakewood’s Detective Bureau is investigating the incident.
[TLS-CCP/TLS-#AB]
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[Story was initially published via our News Alerts @LakewoodScoop]
Isn’t this the 2nd or 3rd time this has happen in the same range?? Smh I say close it down or only cops allowed
Seriously? Again? This has happened multiple times here in lakewood!
Which location was it? Brick armory or shore shot?
This is because they’ll let anyone in off the street and let them rent a gun. Shore Shot is very poorly run.
Comment 1, I agree. And we should also only allow cops on bridges and tall buildings.
Closing it down won’t stop people from committing suicide
they don’t need to shut the range down they simply need to stop renting guns if anything. the people who kill themselves at gun ranges do not own firearms
Read the article literally says shore shot
#1 not a very smart comment, whats your though process because someone or 10 people take their life there some how the business is responsible? because there are guns there, it makes it easier for people to take their own life again is the business responsible? should we close down all gun ranges in the U.S? im just trying to understand your reasoning maybe you just wrote your comment without thinking
Close it down? Cops only?
How about NO.
There are hundreds of people going there without incident.
Suicides will just kill themselves elsewhere.
SMH – Should we close down the George Washington Bridge too? There have been far more than two suicides there.
I say it’s definitely a shame but why close down a business because people decide to go there and use it as a suicide breeding ground maybe go ahead and change some of the rules as far as rentals of firearmsif people choose to do it then why stand in the way they’re going to figure out a way to do it
Why don’t they have some security each shooting booth like they have in a lot of shooing ranges??
Don’t close it good place to shoot
Specially practice for the Olympics.
You are correct they should close it down,and eliminate water towers, bridges, tall buildings, cars, anything you can hang yourself with, over dose with, or cut yourself with,and maybe take the guns away from cops because there is suicide by cop.Thank you for the solution to suicide…
Why would you shut the range down? The range has nothing to do with that man’s choice. He didn’t harm anyone else and that’s all that matters.
Many people died on route 9 over the years so maube we should shut down rt 9 and only allow cops to drive through. Better let bsn car sales in this country because 10,s of thousands have died from them.
Glock19 its obvious you haven’t been to the range recently. Brick armory has been closed for months! Change your name.
the issue isnt closing down the shooting range but rather dealing with the problems leading to the suicide
Aggravated that people have to continue to ruin things for everyone else and we continue to get our rights taken. Because idiots want to kill themselves at a gun range or go on mass killing sprees. Go get yourself help. To the family im sorry and may god be with you
i guess we should close down bridges?
should be close down liquor stores, since people drink & drive & kill?
should we close down bars?
should we close down pharmacies that sell Rx narcotics?
should we close down auto dealerships if too Hondas(example) are used to commit DWi’s?
should we close down car rental places, if too many DWI’s are done in a rented car?
…. if we penalized businesses for the actions of fools, then every single one of you, wouldnt have a single thing to your name. you’d live in a bubble, and wouldnt be allowed out of your house. in fact your house wouldnt be a house- too many die in house fires.
people are going to commit suicide regardless if it’s at a gun range or its hanging themselves from a tree don’t shut down establishment do to someone else’s stupidity
Guards at every shooting lane? I have never ever seen that in any range I have been to in 8 states. They have range masters there–some of the best in the business. The place is very well run and they are great guys that work there. The lessons are great, and they are always helpful with questions and help with equipment.
Some idiot decides it’s time to off himself and goes there to shoot himself and that’s the ranges fault? Shut it down for that? As one gent said earlier–many many people jump off the GWB–and we closing that down? People drink bleach or take pills to commit suicide, does that mean we should ban those products also? The initial comments are sophomoric at best and the one about an officer at each lane shows that either you don’t really shoot, or you’ve been to a range that I’ve never heard of.
Yeah cause cops don’t commit suicide right? What a stupid comment, another product of New Jersey who has no clue when it comes to guns.
If they want to kill themselves they will find a way, he should of jumped in front of your car..
3rd time at Shore Shot. Pretty much why i havent been there in so long.
Because guns don’t kill people, people kill people….
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It is typical of all ranges to face this challenge. If someone wants to kill them self with a firearm, it makes sense to drive to a place where one can be rented or fired without too much issue. Of course, they coukd close the beaches when someone takes an intentional long swim out to sea. Additionally we coukd ride the shoe leather express and ban cars, motorcycles and trains because suicide can be managed using those devices as well. Then again, water consumption in excess can kill you…as well as salt, and other food….not to mention your chemicals from Home Depot. Sure Shot is not lax. Actually, they are so strict as to be annoying about speed drill exercises. To blame the range is the epitome of ignorance.
Y make it only for cops thats dum its a very sad event. But shutting the place down want help because if a person wants to end there life they will find away a gun is just h a really fast way. And suicide is a cowardS way out. Theres so many people you leave behind wondering y tou hurt every bone you love. How coukd you want the people you kove to be in pain. Be in the pain that maybe brought you to thinking or tfying or succeeding in suicide. Please just ask for help. There are people how care people you haven’t even meet care. You may not think it but there are and I and many others acutely care about someone else besides them selfs. Trust me and ask for help
They should stop renting firearms and only allow current owners to shoot. There is something wrong here bc this is third death in this place and this doesn’t usually happen at ranges . Something is wrong by shore shot
If you don’t have your NJFID card,and a membership, you shouldn’t be able to shoot alone. I see a lot of first time shooters come in to shoot in pairs or groups. Might as well make it mandatory 2 person or more for walk ons and rentals.
As a member of Sure Shot I can tell you it is a great place to shoot. Run very well. Go on their website it states..NO gun rentals to a single walk on, unless accompanied by a range master, or for a class or with a member.
They do their best to keep the place very safe. I go there once a month without any feare. Even bring my wife whenever she wants to go.
To the people who complain that they just let anyone off the street walk in and rent a gun…..please keep in mind just across the border in Pennsylvania, anyone (I’ve done it) can walk into a pistol range, rent a gun, and shoot, with just a valid U.S. Drivers license. No questions asked. Gun violence is next to none in these establishments. As a matter of fact. You can walk in and just buy a handgun or any gun as long as you are a resident. It takes ten minutes. This is not the reason. The reason is a high population density is inevitably going to lead to a higher concentration of all different types of people, including crazy people. And since A) Shore Shot is one of the only local places to go Rent and Shoot if you are the occasional shooter, and B) if you are suicidal and not a “NJ firearms purchaser ID card” holder (unnecessary in most states), its much easier to ren t a gun spur of the moment in NJ, Shore Shot is prone to have a higher concentration of incidents. This explains the “Outbreak” of suicides. Its a concentration due to circumstances.
They had a range like that in Garfield N.J. years ago. You would be able to rent a gun to shoot. I never liked the idea , then one day they rented a gun and they robbed the place and killed the range master. Now they made condo’s were the range was.
Of you think of it. This poor life, at least he didn’t take another life with him. God forbid if he would decide to take a car to kill himself…
My condolences to the family and the poor employees that had to see this.
As sad as this is and my condolences to the family left behind….I have to wonder about everyone commenting about them renting firearms. He was a corrections officer which means he most likely had his own gun(s). Why did he go rent one? Who knows but shutting the place down is a ridiculous idea. He could have gone on a shooting spree at a prison, he could have taken family members with him. Luckily, no one else was physically injured.
if the man was a correctional officer,i would .
he has his own gun[s]. why he chose sure shot,we can only speculate.we can only know he chose not to endanger others by his act
1. Correction officers are cops,
2. Who said anything about him renting a gun? They have their own guns.
3. Security is going to do what? Shoot him before he shoots himself? Or maybe just tackle him and wrestle a guy with a gun for 10$ an hour? Do people even think before they post?
#1. “The range should only be to L.e.o” Hello article said he was a corrections officer (part of l.e.o)
#2. All your nj bs gun laws/restrictions doesnt help. He put a lot of people in danger with that stunt!
Lastly, thoughts and prayers for family and friends of this person.
As s child of a Man who committed suicide its not the business’ fault. The man made a choice, a bad choice and he took his life. There may have been signs his family/friends failed to see. He may have been calling out for help in a way that no one noticed. He would have done it somewhere else if anyone tried to stop him. Thank God no one else was hurt
Only a few of you recognized he may have been a corrections officer after most stating only police should be able to use a range. Corrections officers don’t carry in the prison. Not at one officer to possibly double digit inmates per officer. People in jersey don’t realize that they live in a state with some of the strictest gun laws on the books. As stated earlier, a Pennsylvania resident needs only a state driving lisence. The media gets every non-gun owner in an uproar because most just don’t know the laws. Condolences to the family members of the poor soul who made the decision he did. Be safe all.
It is a shame that people pushed so far to lose control and take their own lives. That range has had their share of negative events. People gotta stay away if they are thinking bad thoughts.
Read the article morons, he was a cop. Know what you’re talking about before you post a comment
It is by no means the establishments fault. Shore Shot has excellence staff members and the range is ran properly. The only shame in this situation is that this poor man who decided to take his own life. And what about all the innocent people who were there to just enjoy a good time shooting with friends and family, now those innocent people will have the gut wrenching images and thoughts about what happened due to this man who decided to take action in a public establisent. By no means is it the establishments fault. People are accountable for their own actions.
Just my two cents was spot on!
Correction officers at the State level prisons suffer from PTSD more so than some combat troops due to interaction with long term prisoners. Most times they work without their weapons and the only defense is their mind. It’s a constant mind game and it’s stressful.
He was my brother. He must have gone here because of its lack of regulations. He could have gone closer to home and didn’t. That is all I can estimate. I want this place shut down. Anyone can kill themselves but he didn’t for quite awhile. This place made the choice quick and obviously too easy. He didn’t have his own gun any longer. He was facing something he couldn’t handle and decided to do this which leaves me so utterly empty and heartbroken. I wish I did something more for him and I will forever miss him. I can’t even breathe. Your comments are hurtful. Not all but I wish people would realize rhat there are loved ones like me and my family that will read this and cry. He was a good person who got caught up in a horrible mess and now I will miss him forever. Don’t kill yourself. There is always someone who wants to help and loves you and can’t find the words to help you unless you let them in. Let them in. I wrote my words to him to let him know I loved and cared for him but it wasn’t enuf. If in doubt trust your instincts and grab hold of the one you love and do everything in your power to help them so you do not live with the soul eating guilt and despair that I am experiencing right now.
I think maybe some more staff to supervise shooters? Can’t close down every place that someone takes there “own life”he was a correction officer(meaning police officer over inmates)there are millions taking there own lifes can’t stop that from happening as i wish we could stop it… This is very sad!!but, he was legal and no one could see this coming or it would have been stopped!! R. I. p and condolences to the family
Why would he go to a shooting range to kill himself? Ge could have done it anywhere.. Hmmmm
Devastated. My condolences to you and your family during this very difficult time. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. May your brother rest in peace.
My condolences to the brother and to the rest of the ignorant people, read before you post!
As devastating as this is, this could happen anywhere..it does not have to be at a gun range so closing it will not prevent this from happening again. Also stating that only police officers should able to use these facilities is foolish as well. Although his employment status was not known, he was a Corrections Officer…they have permits to carry therefore putting them into the same category as an officer.
If an individual is going to take there own life, they are going to take their own life. The establishment should not be held responsible for a person making the choice to go in there and do this. There is no way of them knowing that something like this is going to happen in order to prevent it. Officers, Corrections Officers, Teachers, Comdians, etc. all have taken their own lives…a profession should not be the label on these situations. These people were sick, troubled & found no other way out. Their profession is irrelevant.
I pray for the young man & his family. May he rest in peace.
To devistated, Sorry to hear about your loss. Your statment “I want this place shut down” is an emotional response towards a business that did not do this. If you go on their web-page it clearly states the policy. What actually happened that day, I doin’t know…I was not there when or if he rented a gun. Thats all a digression from the fact that he pulled the trigger, not the fine people of shore shot. And I want people to stop using guns for killing others and themselves so that there is no more bad press over firearms….Do we direct our anger towards you and yoru family for what your family has done? No. Want the range shut down all you desire – its not the range’s fault. It’s your brothers.
Did any of you actually read the story? You say stop renting guns to anyone and only allow leos. Well hello earth calling the guy was a corrections officer. And I also seem to remember a while back a cop that went crazy and killed 5 people then himself. So even though these people are cops you still never know.
To the people who say this place should be shut down, you are whats wrong with the world. They let in anyone off the street.. is there something wrong with you? They should only let cops in.. The dude was a cop! Isnt this the 2nd or 3rd time this has happened.. If im not mistaken I believe each incident was a cop or state official; you need to bear in mind cops arent some sort of mythical creature. Unlike 98% of you I have actually been to the range, first time I ever held, seen, or used a gun in my life. The people who work there were professional, responsible, knowledgeable, and safety of the customer and themselves was there number one goal. If someone turns a gun on themselves, they are gonna pull the trigger, there is no safety protocol for that. Uhg its so ridiculous i read an article like this say, oh thats sad.. and accidentally read some of the comments and it just makes me angry. You.. not all of you.. but you who i wrote this response to.. you are pathetic.
Dis it ever occur to anyone that read this that yes….he was an officer…..but he was having issues….so maybe he wasn’t ALLOWED to had a weapon…..and that range didn’t even check that status of people entering????? IF YOU CAN’T HAVE A WEAPON…..U SHOULDN’T BE ALLOWED IN!!!! SO, YES!!!! I totally agree with the brother…..this place should be shut down for allowing people that are not legally allowed to be near a weapon in!!!! Can you say LAWSUIT?!?!?!!
I read the comment from the “brother” of the dead guy who wants to shut a business down that has thousands of customers a year because his brother killed himself
“He” now wants to put forth the effort of closing down the range because “he” didn’t put forth any effort to be there for his brother and help him through a problem!!!!!!!!!
According to a “Lakewood Scoop” article posted on January 8th, the man that committed suicide was a 32 year old Woodbridge man, Jeffery Mazeski. Noted in the article, Mazeski was facing prison time for several offenses: Aggravated assault, possession of a handgun for an unlawful purpose and two counts of unlawful possession of a weapon.
It is noted that he pulled over a 17 year old driver and pulled his firearm on the 15 year old passenger. He also, at a later date, went into a Starbucks in possession of his handgun, handcuffs and represented himself as a police officer.
Given the circumstances, he would be looking at a minimum mandatory of 3-10 years under NJ Graves act violations – firearm possession while committing a crime.
With that coming to light, Mazeski would not be eligible to have a firearm. Shoreshot does have a policy regarding gun rentals where they will not rent firearms out to ineligible persons, specifically lone walk-ons. There is a form you have to fill out concerning your eligibility. If someone is already a law breaker, perjury on said form is moot, especially if they are intending on killing themselves. Mazeski could have had in possession a FID card that he produced to show “eligibility”. Or an old corrections officer ID or badge. The possibilities of how Mazeski rented a firearm – if he rented one at all, are countless.
In the state of NJ, there is no real-time database with a ‘no-fly’ list for firearm possession. There is the NICS check, which costs 15 dollars to conduct and can take anywhere from 5 minutes to 5 days to return an answer on eligibility.
Irrespective of the law and the facts that were presented through articles, further commenting that ShoreShot should be shut down over this is ludicrous. Mazeski’s actions were his own – on the date of his death and they were also his own actions when he committed: aggravated assault, possession of a handgun for an unlawful purpose and his two counts of unlawful possession of a weapon.
Like most high profile cases involving firearms, we should be looking towards the mental health system. We should also be looking towards the judicial system…Nj did after all just pass a law concerning bail being the discretion of a Judge – which, is technically unconstitutional. But given this draconian law, Mazeski or other high profile cases, which may or may not involve a mental health situation, the persons can be detained until deemed fit (unlawfully, mind you – and I’m waiting for the first high profile case in NJ that concerns this unlawful law – it’ll be juicy).
What has been discussed above revolves around how ShoreShot is or is not responsible for this event…Given the evidence where you have an individual whom is becoming a convicted felon, his or her actions at the end can hardly be cause for finger pointing. This situation started years before the incident…. An unfortunate incident where a man’s life was lost and now there is further examination on the 2nd Amendment. To quote some comments above, would this have been different had Mazeski jumped off a bridge or popped some pills?