Retired Fort Lee cop charged with attempted murder in Toms River

A retired Fort Lee police officer has been charged with attempted murder in Ocean County following a shooting Thursday that left a Toms River man with a gunshot wound to the chest.

The charge came after the authorities, pursuant to a search warrant, reviewed a home video that captured the "entire event," said Al Della Fave, a spokesman for the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office.

Former officer Richard Michael Gato, 70, of Margaret court, Toms River, was arrested and taken to the county jail. The victim was identified as Robert Oleynick, 34, also of Toms River.

He was reported in stable condition Monday afternoon, Della Fave said.

The shooting occurred in an area of Gato's home, according to the prosecutor's office. The morning after the shooting, Della Fave said the event "pose[d] no danger to the community."

Oleynick was airlifted to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune — the only hospital with a trauma center in Monmouth and Ocean counties.

Oleynick had gone to Gato's home Thursday evening looking for a friend, but instead found Gato, who was outside the home, Della Fave said. The men ended up in a physical altercation, Della Fave said, and Gato allegedly shot Oleynick.

Oleynick was found by Toms River police around 10 p.m. that evening suffering from a gunshot wound to the left side of his chest, Della Fave said.

In addition to the attempted murder charge, Gato was charged with possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose.

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Toms River defense attorney Bradley Billhimer said he has been retained to represent Gato. Billhimer said he is preparing for Gato's detention hearing, which is scheduled for Wednesday. Billhimer declined further comment. His client was being held in the county jail.



Della Fave did not say if authorities recovered the firearm Gato allegedly used in the shooting.

The officers found Oleynick at an apartment on 400 Kettle Creek Road, Della Fave said. Public records indicate the apartment is Oleynick's home.

Government retirement records show Gato retired in 1994 from service in Fort Lee. He currently receives an annual pension of $53,511.72.

Katie Park: @kathspark; 908-801-4853; kpark@gannettnj.com

Contributing: Alex N. Gecan, Kathleen Hopkins.