Old Bridge police-involved shooting leaves knife-wielding elderly man dead

OLD BRIDGE (WABC) -- An elderly New Jersey man who was allegedly armed with a knife was shot and killed during a confrontation with police as they tried to quell a domestic disturbance early Wednesday.

Middlesex County Prosecutor Andrew Carey announced that 75-year-old Talbot Schroeder, of Old Bridge, was fatally wounded during the incident, which happened just after 6 a.m. on Cedar Grove Place.

Schroeder was pronounced dead at the scene after an Old Bridge police officer opened fire after repeated warnings to drop a knife.

Police immediately contacted the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office, which took control of the investigation and notified the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General, in accordance with state guidelines.

A preliminary investigation showed that the man had confronted the officer, whose identity is being withheld at this time. A large kitchen knife was recovered at the scene.

Police were contacted at 5:54 a.m. and arrived to find the man appeared distraught, had attacked a family member, had threatened another family member and had injured himself with the knife.

The relative who was physically attacked was not injured seriously.

The investigation further showed that before firing one shot, police had attempted to calm the man and repeatedly ordered him to drop the knife.