N.J. SWAT team apprehends armed suspect in hoarding residence, discovers decaying body of woman inside.

A complex death investigation is currently unfolding in Somerville, New Jersey, following a distressing incident that led to the discovery of a deceased woman and an armed man. On Sunday, at approximately 1:08 PM, law enforcement received a call from a concerned resident reporting a gunshot. Upon their arrival, officers were unable to elicit a response from within the residence. This prompted the deployment of a SWAT team, which ultimately had to forcibly enter the home to assess the situation.

Inside the residence, authorities located 66-year-old Thomas Shaulis, who was apprehended and subsequently transported to the hospital while under police custody. A woman, identified as a resident of the home, was found deceased on the kitchen floor, displaying signs of advanced decomposition. According to officials from the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office, the living conditions of the house were alarming; it was described as being in a state reminiscent of “hoarder-like conditions,” with reports of a bed bug infestation further complicating the scene.

The identity of the deceased woman is yet to be confirmed, as her body has been sent to the Northern Regional Medical Examiner’s Office for an autopsy. This examination will not only establish the cause of death but will also facilitate the notification of her next of kin.

In the wake of this incident, Shaulis has been charged with second-degree possession of a firearm for unlawful purposes. He is currently being held in custody, awaiting a detention hearing set to occur following his release from medical care. Investigative reports indicate that law enforcement removed multiple firearms and ammunition from the residence, highlighting the potential danger posed by the circumstances. Further inquiries into the neighborhood revealed two bullet holes in a nearby home during a canvassing operation conducted by police.

Detectives from the Somerville Police Department are collaborating closely with the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office’s Major Crimes Unit, specialized Crime Scene Investigations Unit, and medical investigators from the New Jersey Northern Regional Medical Examiner’s Office to piece together the details of this tragic event. The investigation remains active, with authorities striving to uncover the truth surrounding the events that transpired in this quiet New Jersey community.