05/09/2026
HERO - Everyone needs to know the story of the recently promoted PBA delegate who stopped a would be killer just over a week ago. Sgt. Muhammad Ali of South Tom’s River had only minutes to rescue the suspect’s intended targets and then engage the suspect. “This is the definition of a hero. He put his own life on the line to stop the suspect from killing two people,” said New Jersey State PBA President Peter Andreyev.
Details of Incident:
A 37-year-old from Toms River had moved to Maine last fall for a new job in security but lost his job in March.
On April 29, he thought he lost his longtime girlfriend for good. They had kids together.
She’d finally broken if off with him, obtained a restraining order against him at the Toms River Police Department, where she told officers he had guns and threatened to “visit her” with them.
You don’t know crazy yet,” he told her in a Facetime call that day, according to court documents. She heard a gun click during the call and the sounds of packing. She tracked his location: he was headed south.
The suspect had indeed packed up some belongings, including a tactical vest, and left Bangor, Maine, and drove the eight hours to Ocean County.
The woman went to Tom’s River Police who began their investigation. By the time they were able to track suspect’s cell phone and get a ping, it was near exit 100 on the Garden State Parkway — just 20 minutes from the Toms River exits.
Investigators called South Toms River police and they got to the home at 8:33 p.m. Sgt. Muhammad Ali knocked on the front door and a person inside was so terrified, she called police thinking it was suspect.
At 8:46 p.m., the residents left the home with a suitcase.
Two minutes later, Sgt. Ali learned via police radio that suspect’s vehicle was spotted in the area. Seconds later, the suspect’s vehicle roared down the street, its engine revving, sending Sgt. Ali darting behind his patrol vehicle for cover.
He saw the Toyota 4 Runner’s headlights come down the street, careen across the lawn and the suspect hop out with a pistol in his hand. He was wearing the ballistic vest.
Sgt. Ali screamed at suspect , who was trying to break into the home, “Drop the gun”.
“No!” the suspect yelled. The sergeant fired five times, hitting the suspect twice. Sgt. Ali kicked the gun away from the suspect, called for backup and provided him with medical aid.
The suspect survived and is charged with multiple counts of attempted murder and related crimes for the April 29 incident, including trying to kill Ali with his vehicle.
