Attorney General investigating shooting

By Nathan Mayberg
SPARTA — The New Jersey Attorney General's Office is investigating a shooting in the early morning hours on Sunday in Sparta that involved an off-duty state trooper and three young males.

According to Peter Aseltine, a spokesman for the Attorney General's Office, the office is looking into the shooting by the off-duty trooper at a vehicle occupied by three young men on Whispering Wood Lane.

Two of the men were 18-years-old and one was 19-years-old, Aseltine said.

None of the teens were struck by the shots, and nobody had been charged in the incident as of Tuesday afternoon, he said.

Aseltine declined to address additional questions involving the incident.

The Shooting Response Team of the Attorney General's Office is continuing to investigate the matter and more information may be released this week, Aseltine said. As of Wednesday morning, no further details had been released.

Sparta police referred questions about the shooting to the Attorney General's Office.

Sparta Police Chief Ernest Reigstad said he could not disclose any details or confirm any particulars regarding the shooting.

"The whole incident has been handed over to the Attorney General," Reigstad said.

State Police Captain Stephen Jones referred questions to the Attorney General's Office, as did the Sussex County Prosecutor's Office.

Reporter Nathan Mayberg can be reached at 845-469-9000 ext. 359 or by email at comm.reporter@strausnews.com.