Murder-suicide shocks Manalapan community, orphans children

An apparent dispute over money led a man to shoot and kill two of his relatives before turning the gun on himself Saturday in affluent Manalapan. Police say they responded to a call about gunfire and

News 12 Staff

Oct 9, 2006, 9:54 AM

Updated 6,416 days ago

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Murder-suicide shocks Manalapan community, orphans children
An apparent dispute over money led a man to shoot and kill two of his relatives before turning the gun on himself Saturday in affluent Manalapan.
Police say they responded to a call about gunfire and found 53-year-old Alim Hodzic on Fountayne Avenue with a gun in his hand. Police say he refused to drop the weapon and instead shot himself. Authorities found 41-year-old Esat Astafovic dead in his driveway and his 35-year-old wife Violsa dead inside their home. Authorities say Astafovic?s 74-year-old father was also shot, but is in stable condition.
According to police, two of the couple?s four children and Astafovic?s mother were at home at the time of the shootings, but were unharmed. Neighbors say they hope the family will be able to recover from the tragedy and expressed shock at the incident.
Prosecutors say Hodzic and Astafovic were partners at a New York City window company, but the victim won a large civil judgment against the shooter earlier this year. Hodzic was married to Astafovic?s half sister.


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