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Attorney General Christopher Porrino’s Shooting Response Team was investigating the Sunday night shooting.
According to the preliminary investigation, the incident began when troopers from the Netcong State Police Barracks received a report of a woman walking along the shoulder of Route 80.
"When a trooper responded to assist the woman and bring her to the State Police barracks, she reported that she had been assaulted by her boyfriend while they were driving on I-80, and he had made her get out of the car," Porrino said, adding that the woman "had visible injuries on her face and body."
Her boyfriend was identified as Matthew Gerndt, 35, of Lake Hopatcong, he said.
"Five troopers responded to Gerndt’s rented residence on Brady Road in Lake Hopatcong at approximately 11:30 p.m. to arrest him on an assault charge," the attorney general said.
Porrino gave this account:
"Troopers saw Gerndt exit the rear of the residence through sliding glass doors onto a patio. The troopers identified themselves as State Police, but Gerndt retreated into the house and locked the patio doors.
"Troopers gained entry to the building to arrest Gerndt, who lives on the lower level of the house.
"Three troopers proceeded to enter the lower-level residence while identifying themselves as troopers.
"While the troopers were effecting the arrest of Gerndt in a narrow hallway, he allegedly charged aggressively at the trooper who was in the lead position, who subsequently fired two rounds from his service handgun, striking Gerndt once in the lower body.
"Gerndt was taken to Morristown Medical Center for treatment of a non-life threatening injury. None of the troopers were injured.
"Gerndt was charged with assault and resisting arrest. He will be detained on the domestic violence assault charge upon discharge from the hospital."
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