Fatal shooting ruled suicide by police

KEARNY – 

The death of a 60-year-old Garfield man, found mortally wounded in his car in Kearny last week, has been ruled an apparent suicide, Police Chief John Dowie reported.

At 2:42 a.m., Tuesday, Jan. 13, Officer Michael Santucci was on patrol when he observed a blue Mazda in the parking lot of a closed business, the Route 7 Grille, located at 590 Belleville Turnpike.

Police said that upon further investigation, the officer discovered the seriously injured man in the driver’s seat, bleeding from an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. A revolver was found on his lap, police said.

Kearny EMS and paramedics were dispatched and transported the victim to University Hospital in Newark, where he was pronounced dead at 3:30 that afternoon.

The victim’s family had been notified immediately upon confirmation of his identity, which, other than his age and place of residence, is being withheld.

Detectives were conducting a follow-up investigation, but “no foul play is suspected,” Dowie said.

– Karen Zautyk 

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