An Ocean County police officer was shot and killed while responding to a call at a Central Jersey townhouse complex Friday afternoon.
Officer Chris Matlosz, 27, of Toms River was shot three times at close range while making a "routine stop" around 4 p.m. along the 1500 block of August Drive in Lakewood, N.J.
The officer didn't even have the chance to pull out his own weapon.
Matlosz, who joined the forced in Aug. 2006, was taken to Jersey Shore Medical Center in Neptune where he was pronounced dead just before 5 p.m., police sources said.
The shooting was called "a heinous, execution-style killing," by County prosecutor Marlene Lynch Ford.
The officer, who was in his car, had pulled up to the suspect, who was on foot.
"This was an encounter that was between the officer and the individual, not hostile," Ford said. "The individual stepped back at one point and suddenly pulled out a handgun... and shot the officer."
In a strange twist, Matlosz had just transferred from the midnight shift to the day shift. A neighbor told NBC Philadelphia that the officer normally had off Fridays but was called in.
The suspect was described as black male in his early 20s or late teens, stocky build with sunken eyes and puffy cheeks, was wearing a gray hoodie, and low-hanging dark jeans.
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He remained on the loose as of midnight and a reward was already being offered for his capture.
A $40,000 reward was being offered for info leading to the arrest and prosecution of the unknown assailant.
Matlosz leaves behind a fiancee, mother and brother.
"This is a terrible tragedy, and our hearts and prayers go out to Officer Matlosz's family, friends, fellow officers and the entire New Jersey law enforcement community," Gov. Chris Christie said.
*Photo courtesy of the Asbury Park Press.
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