SOMERVILLE, NJ — A 66-year-old man was arrested following a SWAT team standoff after a woman was found dead inside a residence on Mastogen Drive.
Somerset County Prosecutor John P. McDonald, Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Chief of County Detectives Francisco Roman Jr., and Somerville Police Chief Dennis Manning announced the ongoing death investigation and arrest of Thomas M. Shaulis of Somerville.
On Sunday at 1:08 p.m., Somerville Police responded to a residence on Mastogen Drive for reports of shots fired.
An area resident notified authorities that he had heard what sounded like shots being fired from a residence on Mastogen Drive and observed a male resident retreat into the residence.
Somerville Police Officers attempted to contact the residents, who were known to authorities, but were unsuccessful in making contact.
During the attempts to make contact, a Somerville Police Officer observed through a window an unresponsive female on the kitchen floor of the residence.
Somerville Police requested assistance from Bridgewater Police in establishing a perimeter while continuing to attempt to contact the male resident.
At approximately 2:09 p.m., Somerville Police requested the Somerset County SWAT team.
The Somerset County SWAT team, the Crisis-Negotiations Team, and SWAT Tactical Medics responded at the request of Somerville Police.
Upon arrival, Crisis-Negotiators attempted to contact the male resident of the house.
Following several unsuccessful attempts, at approximately 3:18 p.m., SWAT made a tactical entry of the residence where they encountered an adult male laying on the couch within the living room of the residence.
Shaulis was armed with four handguns within proximity of his body.
Shaulis was immediately placed into custody by SWAT members and removed from the residence.
Additional SWAT entry members simultaneously continued to clear the residence and discovered a deceased female on the floor in the kitchen.
The deceased female was in advanced stages of decomposition.
Inside the residence, authorities stated that it was hoarder-like conditions with an infestation of bed bugs.
Detectives from the Somerville Police Department along with detectives from the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit, the Crime Scene Investigations Unit, and Medical Investigators from the New Jersey Northern Regional Medical Examiner’s Office responded to the scene to conduct the investigation.
Shaulis was transported to an area hospital for observation where he remains.
Authorities removed numerous firearms and ammunition from the residence following a Superior Court ordered search warrant.
During a neighborhood canvass, authorities observed two bullet holes to the exterior of a residence on Mastogen Drive near the defendant’s residence.
A postmortem examination will be scheduled to be performed by the Northern Regional Medical Examiner’s Office to positively identify the adult female decedent and determine the cause and manner of death, as well as next of kin notification.
Shaulis was charged with second-degree possession of a firearm for an unlawful purpose.
Upon discharge from the hospital, Shaulis will be transported and lodged at the Somerset County Jail pending a detention hearing.
Anyone with information relating to this investigation is asked to contact the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office at (908) 231-7100 or the Somerville Police Department at (908) 725-0331 or via the STOPit app.
