Ocean County's Regional SWAT Team members are exonerated by state investigators who probed last February's fatal shooting during a standoff with a knife-wielding man in Toms River.

Justice is served
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The Attorney General's office determined that the use of force in the shooting of Michael Laniado, 27, was justified, and that no grand jury hearing would be required.

In New Jersey, officers are permitted to use deadly force when they reasonably believe it necessary to protect others, including officers, from imminent danger of death or serious harm.

Witness interviews, forensic analysis and autopsy results contributed to their findings. Authorities who questioned the officers said that one responded to the Laniado house in 2014, after a call to headquarters in which he allegedly said, "I'm going to be famous...I'm going to get a cop to shoot me."

The same officer recounted for investigators an episode one night before the shooting, in which Laniado was suspected of flashing a knife to neighbors, and another in which Laniado crashed into his gas meter

Manchester police traveled to Pine Acres Manor at 11 PM on February 5 to deliver a child support to Shayna Palmieri, who lived their with Laniado.

Laniado locked them inside the dwelling. Police who tried without success to coax Palmieri from the home reportedly saw Laniado holding a knife and tossing items through an open window, including an improvised spear in the direction of officers.

SWAT Team members began speaking to Laniado through broken windows after getting no response through a "throw phone" they had tossed inside. Negotations continued for several hours.

Five hours later, facing an "increasingly combative" Laniado, SWAT Team members lobbed tear gas into the dwelling, forcing them onto the porch. They retreated indoors again, but not before officers spotted a knife on Laniado's belt, authorities said.

Whey emerged again, Laniado led Palmieri with his right hand and held a knife with his left, which he brandished and threw over his shoulder after several commands to drop it.

Laniado moved toward the street and drew a second knife from his waistband, at which point one officer fired rounds from an FN 303 "less lethat" weapon, firing projectiles that avoid penetration injuries by shattering on contact.

Officers said that Laniado doubled over, without falling, and appeared incensed by the rounds, then charged the SWAT officers, Two fired at him, bringing him down. They recovered an eight-inch knife and a six-inch knife.

Laniado was pronounced dead at Community Medical Center in Toms River. The autopsy revealed gunshot woulds to his left arm, left forearm, left shoulder, front and back torso, chest and abdomen, along with less-lethal projectile wounds in his chest area. Toxicology results indicated alcohol and marijuana in his bloodstream.

Video recorded by equipment in a squad car on site supported statements given by officers, authorities said.

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