By: Richard L. Smith
What began as a quiet Saturday afternoon in a Mountainside neighborhood quickly turned tense when police responded to a domestic disturbance involving a handgun on the 200 block of Bridal Path.
Neighbors watched as officers surrounded the home of 48-year-old Tom Ronckovitz, who barricaded himself inside and refused to come out.
Police secured the area, and soon specialized units—including the Union County Emergency Response Team, Elizabeth Police Emergency Services Unit, and New Jersey State Police TEAMS Unit—arrived to help manage the escalating situation.
For several hours, authorities attempted to negotiate with Ronckovitz, with support from mental health professionals working under Union County’s ARRIVE Critical Incident Model.
But instead of surrendering, officials said he opened fire from inside the house, shooting multiple rounds at both officers and patrol vehicles.
The standoff finally came to an end in the early morning hours of October 19, when law enforcement gained entry into the home and established direct communication, leading to Ronckovitz’s surrender.
Prosecutor William A. Daniel and Mountainside Police Chief Joseph Giannuzzi later confirmed Ronckovitz’s arrest.
He has been charged with first-degree attempted murder, aggravated assault, and weapons offenses. Ronckovitz remains in custody at Essex County Jail, awaiting his first appearance in Union County Superior Court.