Nick Muscavage

@nmuscavage

Delaware man Christopher Angelo Pizzichetta, 46, was killed by a state trooper on Thursday.

The fatal shooting took place at the Molly Pitcher Service Area on the New Jersey Turnpike in Cranbury.

CRANBURY - The state Office of the Attorney General has identified the man who was shot and killed by a New Jersey State Trooper on Thursday at the Molly Pitcher Service Area on the New Jersey Turnpike.

Christopher Angelo Pizzichetta, 46, was fatally shot by a state trooper when he was allegedly spotted shooting heroin in his pickup truck and tried to flee the scene, nearly running over an undercover trooper, according to a news release from the attorney general's office on Friday.

Five members of the state police arrived at the service area in unmarked police vehicles to conduct an undercover narcotics operation when they noticed Pizzichetta parked in a truck at the north end of the parking area, according to the release.

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Pizzichetta, a resident of Lewes, Delaware, appeared to be "shooting up heroin," the release said. When the officers moved closer to him, Pizzichetta drove away and parked in a remote area on the other end of the parking area. The troopers wanted to implement a plan to make sure Pizzichetta couldn't drive out of the service area.

The troopers moved in with three vehicles in an attempt to block Pizzichetta's truck, but he tried to flee, according to the attorney general's office. In doing so, he backed into one of the police SUVs, which had its sirens on, then drove forward and struck an unmarked police truck.

"Rather than driving to the ramp leading to the exit road, Pizzichetta cut across a median where another trooper, who was on foot, was standing. Civilian witnesses said that Pizzichetta sped directly at the trooper, who was wearing a holster and weapon and was clearly identifiable as a police officer," the release said. "That trooper fired multiple rounds from his service handgun through Pizzichetta’s windshield, striking the upper part of his body."

Pizzichetta was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the release. A syringe and empty glassine — an envelope that could be used to carry heroin or other drugs — were found in his truck, the release said. The identity of the trooper who shot Pizzichetta was not released.

No troopers were injured, but the trooper who fired was taken to a hospital for evaluation, pursuant to standard procedures.

The investigation by the attorney general's shooting response team is ongoing and no further details are being released. The shooting response team is made up of deputy attorneys general, detectives of the Division of Criminal Justice and detectives of the State Police Homicide Unit. It is dispatched to a scene to handle investigations of shootings involving state troopers or officers employed by county prosecutors as detectives, investigators or members of county emergency response teams and task forces.

Staff Writer Nick Muscavage: 908-243-6615; ngmuscavage@gannettnj.com