Ralph Johnson, 60, was discovered in the Ewingville Cemetery in West Trenton shortly after 3:00 p.m. Wednesday, police said. He had been sought all day in connection with the double shooting.
According to the prosecutor's office, Johnson shot himself in the head after seeing the police officers and was rushed to the hospital in critical condition where he later died.
Police say Johnson shot the corrections officers, who are also a married couple, around 5:00 a.m. in the 100 block of Parkinson Avenue in Hamilton Township.
Police say the victims were sitting in a GMC Arcadia parked outside their home when Johnson opened fire. 16 shell casings from a 9mm handgun were later recovered.
47-year-old Laughfiel (Nick) Nicholson was hit multiple times and later died at the hospital. His wife, 45-year-old Joanne Nicholson, was taken into surgery at Capital Health Systems-Fuld Campus after being shot several times in the arm.
She was wearing her bullet proof vest on the way to work, shielding her from further harm. She was last reported to be in serious but stable condition.
According to prosecutors, the Nicholsons were leaving for work at the time of the shooting. Both work at the New Jersey State Prison in Trenton.
Police say the shootings appear to be motivated by an ongoing child support dispute between Johnson and Mrs. Nicholson over their 15-year-old daughter. When a court hearing on Tuesday didn't go his way, he allegedly threatened her and her family.
"The judge was trying to make him pay $600 more a month. He doesn't even make that in a month," said Pamela Thomas, a former girlfriend of Johnson.
Authorities are trying to get to the bottom of what happened.
"We're seeking to get the tapes from the proceedings yesterday in court," said Mercer County Prosecutor Joe Bocchini.
A co-worker from towing company that employed Johnson said he complained regularly about being treated unfairly by Nicholson and the courts.
"A man can only take so much. He can only take so much before he gets pushed to the edge," said co-worker Jason Onderonk. "After that court session yesterday he hit the breaking point."
Johnson lived just two doors away from his alleged victims. At the scene, Johnson's son defended his father to reporters.
"The man you're trying to call a murderer raised three boys and a girl by himself with no help. No help!" said Johnson's son, Ralph Johnson Jr.
The 15-year-old girl at the center of this violence is staying with relatives.
