TOMS RIVER, NJ — On July 5, detectives from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit, Manchester Township Police Department, and United States Marshals Service located Maxwell Johnston, 35, of Manchester Township, at a residence on Ravenwood Drive in Toms River. Johnston was wanted for the murder of Gabriella Caroleo, 25, of Seaside Heights, which occurred on June 27.
Upon arrival, negotiators attempted to persuade Johnston to surrender peacefully, but he refused. After several hours, a female occupant, Mascarelli, exited the residence and was transported to Community Medical Center in Toms River for injuries sustained during the standoff. Johnston was later found deceased in a bedroom from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Further investigation revealed that Mascarelli had allowed Johnston to stay at her residence for four days despite knowing of his involvement in Caroleo’s murder. Mascarelli was charged with Hindering a Fugitive from Justice and will be transferred to the Ocean County Jail pending a detention hearing.
Sources within law enforcement today have confirmed that Maxwell Johnston, the fugitive murder suspect who killed himself after a tense standoff with police officers in Toms River, was with another woman inside a Toms River home before police entered the house.
According to the reliable source, the woman was a girlfriend of Johnston, and the pair reportedly published their final intimate moments together on Instagram before his self-inflicted demise. The woman, who was later seen being taken away by ambulance, was reportedly injured after a police teargas canister struck her in the head.
The pair engaged in a sexual act before his death, the source confirmed tonight. The video and photos were posted to Instagram under the account Glizzygrimm. That account belongs to Elizabeth Mascarelli, who has a police record that includes the possession, manufacturing, and distribution of drugs.
In one photo published on her Instagram page, the two are seen have relations. A bullet hole was clearly visible in the shattered mirror in the Ravenwood Court bedroom. Maxwell was holding a gun, presumably the one he killed himself and Gabriella Caroleo with. Both topless, Mascarelli is seen licking the gun in one photo.
In another photo, Maxwell is seen making a ‘finger gun’ motion to his head, indicating that he was going to kill himself. Mascarelli was smiling in the photo.
Johnston reportedly fired multiple shots at police and U.S. Marshals Service agents before police entered the home to find him dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Officials believe Mascarelli knew Johnston was a fugitive wanted for the murder of a 25-year-old mother from Seaside Heights, Gabriella M. Caroleo. Caroleo was found shot dead near the intersection of Route 571 and Route 547 in Manchester Thursday evening shortly before 5:00 pm on June 27th. Mascarelli was also from Seaside Heights.
It is not known whether or not Mascarelli will be charged for her role in today’s standoff. She has an extensive criminal arrest record.
Toms River officials have refused to comment on this report, and the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office is expected to release a press release shortly.