Maplewood Man Murders Three Berkeley Township Residents Before Taking His Own Life
Authorities in Berkeley Township, New Jersey, are continuing to investigate a tragic and deeply disturbing incident that claimed the lives of Allan Russell, 61, Michelle Russell, 60, and Deonna Stewart, 38, after Vaughn Stewart, 37, of Maplewood, allegedly carried out a deadly shooting before ultimately taking his own life during the early morning hours of March 10, 2026.
According to Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer, the incident began at approximately 5:00 a.m. when officers from the Berkeley Township Police Department responded to a residence on Fairwood Drive following reports of gunfire. When officers arrived at the scene, they observed a man entering the residence. Shortly afterward, officers reported hearing additional gunshots coming from inside the home.
Due to the dangerous situation, the Ocean County Regional SWAT Team was called to assist. Tactical officers later made entry into the residence in order to secure the scene and search for victims.
Upon entering the home, officers discovered two individuals deceased from apparent gunshot wounds. The victims were later identified as Allan Russell and Michelle Russell, the homeowners. Officers also located three minor children inside the residence, who were found unharmed during the incident.
While continuing to clear the home, officers discovered a man later identified as Vaughn Stewart suffering from what authorities described as an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. Stewart was transported to Community Medical Center in Toms River, where he was later pronounced deceased.
As investigators expanded the perimeter of the crime scene, officers discovered multiple shell casings outside the residence. A short distance away, approximately 50 yards from the home along Fairwood Drive, authorities located a third victim, later identified as Deonna Stewart.
Investigators determined that Deonna Stewart had been living at the Fairwood Drive residence with her parents, Allan and Michelle Russell, along with her three children. Authorities also confirmed that Vaughn Stewart and Deonna Stewart shared the three children but had been living separately prior to the incident.
According to investigators, Vaughn Stewart entered the residence and fatally shot Allan and Michelle Russell inside the home. Authorities believe he then pursued Deonna Stewart as she fled the residence, chasing her down the street before firing multiple shots and killing her outside the home.
After the shooting outside, investigators say Stewart returned to the residence and then turned the gun on himself.
The three children inside the home were not physically harmed, but they are now in the care of the New Jersey Department of Child Protection and Permanency.
The investigation is being conducted by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit, in cooperation with the Berkeley Township Police Department, the Ocean County Regional SWAT Team, and the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit.
Prosecutor Billhimer commended the coordinated efforts of the responding agencies for their work in handling the situation and conducting the ongoing investigation.
Authorities have not indicated any ongoing threat to the public, but the investigation remains active as detectives continue to review evidence and piece together the events leading up to the tragic incident.
The shocking violence has left the Berkeley Township community shaken, particularly given that three children were present in the home and survived the incident while losing multiple family members in a single act of violence. Investigators continue to gather information as they work to fully understand the circumstances that led to the tragedy.
