Michael Litwornia
A fatal altercation between a 27 year-old man and his parents shut down a residential community for nearly three hours on Monday, leaving detectives to determine the motive behind the alleged attack., Michael Litwornia was charged with first degree homicide and second degree aggravated assault after allegedly stabbing his parents in their Washington Valley Road home., Officials at the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office said the names of the parents are being withheld, pending next of kin notifications., According to officials, the incident started when the Bridgewater Police Department received a report of a stabbing victim outside the home, located between Crim Road and Tullo Road., Upon arriving at the scene, police said they located the man suffering from severe stab wounds and lacerations. He told officers that his son, Michael, attacked him., Shortly afterward, police said additional officers arrived at the home and found a 61 year-old woman inside, also with stab and cut wounds., Medical personnel and officers on the scene tended to both individuals, but the woman was pronounced dead at the scene. The prosecutor’s office said the man was “transported to an area trauma center, where he underwent emergency surgery.” He was listed in critical condition., Attempts by responding officers to make contact with Litwornia, who had barricaded himself inside the house, proved fruitless, police said. A perimeter around the home was established and nearby residents were either evacuated or ordered to shelter in place as the situation unfolded., Somerset County SWAT and Hostage/Crisis Negotiators were subsequently called to the scene. Detectives from the Bridgewater Township Police Department and the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit, as well as the Crime Scene Investigations and Forensics Unit and the New Jersey Northern Regional Medical Examiner’s Office were also on hand to conduct the investigation., After multiple refusals by Litwornia to communicate with negotiators, a mechanical robot was sent into the home and used to locate him lying on a couch., At approximately 11 p.m., officials said SWAT members entered the home and made contact with Litwornia, who attempted to grab a sharp object before being subdued and taken into custody., Officials said Litwornia had self-inflicted wounds on his body when they apprehended him. As a result, he was transported to an area hospital for treatment, where he remains under police guard. Once released, he will be taken to the Somerset County Jail., Somerset County Prosecutor Michael Robertson said the incident is currently under investigation by local and county agencies, with detectives attempting to establish a motive for the attack., Robertson, Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Chief of County Detectives John W. Fodor and Bridgewater Township Chief of Police Al Nicaretta are asking anyone with information on the incident to call the Somerset County Prosecutors Office Major Crimes Unit at 908-231-7100, the Bridgewater Township Police Department at 908-722-4111 or the Somerset County Crime Stoppers’ Tip Line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477). Information can also be submitted online at www.888577tips.org or www.scpo.net.
