The son of a former New Jersey fire chief shot and killed his wife on the front lawn of their home, then turned the gun on himself, prosecutors said.
Scott Sabia, 45, shot his wife, Michele, 44, outside their home on Union Street in Carlstadt Wednesday evening, prosecutors said in a news conference. Their three children managed to escape the home unharmed.
Michele Sabia was pronounced dead at the scene. By the time officers responded, Scott Sabia had locked himself in their home, prosecutors said.
The couple's 9-year-old daughter and two sons, ages 11 and 14, had gotten out of the house unharmed.
SWAT teams and police from multiple agencies secured the perimeter around the home and attempted to coax Scott Sabia out, prosecutors said.
A police officer was heard over loudspeaker saying "Scott, this is the Bergen County SWAT team. Come out with your hands up."
Police also used stun grenades and a robot to try to force the man out of the house.
When their repeated attempts to contact Scott Sabia got no response over the course of an hour, the SWAT teams entered the home and found Sabia dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound in the entryway, prosecutors said.
Authorities said they're investigating what led to the shooting.
Scott and Michele Sabia separated last year but had just gotten back together, according to neighbors.
Scott Sabia was the son of a former fire chief in Carlstadt, according to sources. Sources said he suffered from depression and was off his medication.
But a woman who identified herself outside the home as a cousin of Scott Sabia's father said his depression was under control.
"He was a good boy, he was a friendly boy, he was a loving boy," said Geri Sabia.
As to Scott owning a gun, she said, "They were hunters. My cousins, they hunt. They were avid hunters, and that's it."
SUICIDE PREVENTION HELP: The National Suicide Prevention Hotline (1-800-273-8255) is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
