Police: Man points gun, uses antisemitic slur during altercation outside Paramus ShopRite
A Maywood man was arrested following the incident.
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A Maywood man was arrested on multiple charges Friday after police say he used an antisemitic slur and pointed a handgun at a man outside a Paramus supermarket.
On Friday at approximately 12:32 p.m., police responded to a 911 call in the parking lot of the Route 4 ShopRite. The caller told officers that during an altercation, a man identified as Joseph Koppinger, 35, of Maywood, "used an antisemitic slur and pointed a firearm at him before fleeing the scene in a white Ford Mustang."
According to police, the victim says the dispute began when Koppinger opened his car door, hitting the victim's parked vehicle. A verbal altercation took place before Koppinger headed into the ShopRite, returning a short time later.
"When he returned, he again struck the victim’s car door with his own door and shouted a slur," Police Chief Robert Guidetti said in a statement. "He then drove a short distance, stopped in front of the victim’s car, and pointed a handgun directly at the victim before leaving the area."
Koppinger's vehicle was identified in nearby Maywood by an officer conducting traffic patrol. A Paramus officer then responded to the location and stopped Koppinger after he exited the vehicle. During a search of his car, police located a plastic imitation Colt pellet handgun on the floorboard.
Koppinger was placed under arrest and charged with bias intimidation, aggravated assault and possession of a weapon, Guidetti said. He was later transported to Bergen County jail.
