Off-duty Sayreville police officer found shot to death outside theater

Officials would not describe the nature of the investigation. Watch video

Update: Sources identify officer found dead Monday as a decorated nine-year vet

SAYREVILLE -- A Sayreville police officer was found dead after suffering gunshot wounds near the Amboy Cinemas, Middlesex County Prosecutor Andrew Carey said.

The officer, whose name has not been released, was off duty at the time of the incident, Carey said. It is not clear why he was at the theater. Authorities responded at 7:15 Monday morning to reports that a body had been found in the parking lot. The officer suffered "one or more gunshot wounds," investigators said.

The officer's death led to an outpouring of grief among the New Jersey law enforcement community.

In a news release Monday afternoon, police did not say if they were looking for any suspects. The cause of the officer's death and the circumstances surrounding the incident are still not known.

Numerous police vehicles were parked alongside Route 9, and a group of officers were standing toward one end of the theater. Crime scene tape was hung all around the vast building.

Aerial footage from the scene showed a dark-colored sedan with at least one bullet hole in the front passenger side window.

http://www.nj.com/middlesex/index.ssf/2016/03/law_enforcement_community_mourns_sayreville_office.html

The officer was a nine-year veteran of the force, law enforcement sources familiar with the investigation said.

Reached for comment early Monday, Sayreville police would not describe the nature of the investigation, but said that officers were on scene.

"We have been alerted to a report of a body located near the former movie theater in Sayreville," Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office spokesman James O'Neill said in an email. "The Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office is investigating with the cooperation of the Sayreville Police Department. There will be no further comment at this time."

Amboy Cinemas, just off the Garden State Parkway, closed about 10 years ago.

Staff writer Tom Haydon contributed to this report.

Brian Amaral may be reached at bamaral@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @bamaral44. Find NJ.com on Facebook.