Long Branch shooting: 16-year-old in custody after allegedly killing family

LONG BRANCH - A 16-year-old youth is in custody, charged with the shooting murders of his parents, sister and a family friend shortly before midnight New Year’s Eve.

Two other family members, a brother and a grandfather, as well as a family friend, fled during the shooting, authorities said. The killings were done with a semi-automatic rifle that the family legally owned, authorities said.

Scott Kologi has been charged with four counts of murder and a weapons offense and is being held in a Middlesex County facility.

Neighbors told the Asbury Park Press that Scott has autism, and friends and neighbors said the teen was homeschooled by his mother, one of the victims.

The victims were identified as the suspect's father, Steven Kologi, 44; mother, Linda Kologi, 42; sister, Brittany Kologi, 18; and a family acquaintance, Mary Schulz, 70. They were found by police minutes after a 911 call reported shots fired.

Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni said Monday two other family members were able to escape the home at 635 Wall St. Both were unharmed. On Tuesday, he amended that statement to add a third surviving person in the home: a family friend.

Authorities and family friends are now trying to piece together why the youth allegedly turned a weapon on his family.

Gramiccioni, speaking outside the Long Branch police headquarters on New Year’s Day, said officials did not as of yet have a motive for the violence. He called the deaths a "terrible tragedy."

Neighbors said they heard both gunshots and fireworks go off simultaneously from different locations in the neighborhood, which is described in the video above.

MORE: Long Branch shooting: mass slaying no bizarre anomaly

"I walked outside at midnight. We heard the commotion and lights flashing and saw (the police) storm the house," said James Roskowinski, referring to himself and a roommate.

Roskowinski, who is a resident on Wall Street, said he didn’t know the family.

The suspect used a Century Arms semi-automatic rifle to shoot his victims and was taken into custody without incident, Gramiccioni said. He would not further describe the rifle, except to say it was lawfully owned.

"The weapon was legally owned and registered to a family member," said Gramiccioni.

He said the youth is being held at Middlesex County Youth Detention Center. Gramiccioni said the teenager, whom he would not name because of his age, will make his first appearance before a Superior Court judge on Tuesday.

The Monmouth County Prosecutor did not release the names of the brother or grandfather.

Gramiccioni said "thankfully (they) left the house," and were "OK."

A 911 call of shots fired was received by police at 11:43 p.m. Gramiccioni said it originated from inside 635 Wall St.

The four victims were pronounced dead at the scene.

"I could never have believed this could have happened. They were all good people," said Carmen Gaudious, a family friend from West Long Branch. "I just spoke to Steve (the father) three days ago. He looked good. It was cold so we didn't say much. He wished me happy holidays."

Gaudious said he did not see the 16-year-old outside of the house often.

"I don't know too much about him. He didn't come out that much," Gaudious said.

Long Branch High School Superintendent Michael Salvatore said Scott Kologi did not attend the high school. He would not confirm if any of Kologi's siblings were enrolled. Salvatore said the district would make a statement on Tuesday.

Family friends said Scott Kologi was homeschooled.

Veronica Mass, 69, of Union Beach, said she had known the mother, Linda, since she was a child. She said Linda pulled Scott out of school in the fourth or fifth grade “because he wasn’t getting along with the kids in school or whatever."

She said he seemed to have an educational disability. Three family friends, including Ronald Pacheco, 43, of Long Branch, said Scott Kologi has autism.

Neither the prosecutor's office nor the school would confirm any diagnosis regarding the suspect.

"He had some type of autism. I didn't know what type. He was very secluded," said Pacheco.

Mass said home instruction appeared to help Scott and she couldn't imagine what happened New Year's Eve that might have set him off.

Mass said Linda and Steven Kologi had three children: Brittany, Steve Jr. and Scott. Linda Kologi had another son, Jonathon, from another relationship.

Steven Kologi was described by a friend as a good softball teammate and a straightforward person.

"In all the years I've known him I cannot say a negative thing about him," said David Farmer, 49, of Long Branch, who said he played with Steve Kologi in the Neptune Men's Softball League.

"He always talked about his family, every conversation me and him had. We were talking about ball, just life in general," said Farmer. "As serious as the situation was that I was going through, he would just simplify it and put it into perspective."

Steven Kologi listed his job as a "mailhandler" with the United States Postal Service in a 2009 bankruptcy filing. At the time of the filing, Kologi said he had four children, aged 17, 11, 10 and 7. See a copy of the bankruptcy filing below.

Because of the seriousness of the offense, Gramiccioni said the prosecutor could waive the youth out of juvenile court and try him as an adult, but no decision on that had been made as of early Monday.

The shooting was initially reported by the police over social media.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to call Detective Andrea Tozzi, of the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office at 800-533-7443, or Detective Michael Verdadiero of the Long Branch Police Department at 732-222-1000.

Dan Radel: 732-643-4072; dradel@gannettnj.com

Contributing: Tom Costello.