A crazed ex-fireman allegedly launched right into a violent rampage after his ex-girlfriend dumped him — and was “prepared for battle” when he drove eight hours aspiring to kill her household in New Jersey, in response to prosecutors.
Brian John Lanzim, 37, was armed with two weapons and a bulletproof vest when he headed from Bangor, Maine to South Toms River, after the mom of his two youngsters broke up with him and filed a brief restraining order in opposition to him, authorities mentioned.
He allegedly wished to kill off his ex’s household to get custody of his youngsters, in response to prosecutors — however his lawyer claimed he was really attempting to die “by suicide by cops,” in response to Patch.com.
“He completely f–ked up. He f–ked up large time,” Lanzim’s good buddy, who requested to not be named, advised The Put up.
The previous Toms River firefighter allegedly despatched terrifying threats to his ex on April 29 — letting her know he was armed, harmful and on his manner over.
“In case your father is there I’m going to take him out” and beat him “pulseless,” he allegedly advised the girl, as Ocean County Choose Pamela M. Snyder learn aloud in courtroom Friday morning.
“You don’t know loopy but,” he additionally allegedly warned his ex throughout a chilling FaceTime name, NJ.com reported.
The individuals inside the house he was focusing on fled the scene and alerted police lengthy earlier than he arrived, authorities mentioned.
When Lanzim confirmed up after 9:40 p.m., he allegedly floored his Toyota 4Runner over the garden in a sick try to run over the ready cops, in response to the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Workplace.
The officers then dove behind a fence and watched as gun-wielding Lanzim pounded on a locked door of the vacant home, prosecutors mentioned.
“Brian, put it down!” one of many Toms River cops demanded, in response to NJ.com.
“No!” Lanzim resisted, per the physique digital camera footage.
Police then fired at Lanzim, putting him in his hand and pelvis nonfatality. He was taken to Jersey Shore College Medical Heart in Neptune earlier than being moved to Ocean County Jail.
Investigators discovered a loaded rifle and a considerable amount of ammunition magazines in his automotive, prosecutors mentioned. He reportedly had a handgun on him when he was shot.
He’s been charged with three counts of tried homicide, two counts of weapons possession for an illegal function, illegal use of physique armor, housebreaking, terroristic threats and 22 counts of possession of a big capability of ammunition magazines.
“He was prepared for battle,” Assistant Prosecutor Mara Brater mentioned at his detention listening to — warning that if the victims hadn’t fled the house and referred to as police earlier than he arrived, he would have dedicated much more heinous crimes.
Brater went on to assert that Lanzim’s sinister plan was to kill or hurt his ex’s household so he may get full custody.
However Lanzim’s lawyer Marissa Koerner openly argued his alleged violent outburst was attributable to a psychological breakdown triggered by the breakup. He additionally has bipolar dysfunction and was in remedy for it, she mentioned.
“‘I f–king misplaced her, man. Inform her and the boys I really like them,’” Lanzim allegedly mentioned, per an affidavit Koerner learn aloud.
“He loves his household,” she argued.
By sporting a bulletproof vest, Lanzim was attempting to “pressure a kill shot to the pinnacle” throughout his heated alternate with police, the lawyer advised the courtroom.
However Brater shot down these claims — alleging that his targets begged him to not undergo together with his horrifying plot.
He additionally allegedly has a track-record of violence — together with an occasion the place he pulled a gun on his ex and mentioned, “If I can’t have you ever, nobody can.”
The choose ordered that Lanzim will stay in custody awaiting trial, in response to courtroom information. He’s due again in courtroom on Could 18.
Lanzim was a fireman and EMT in Ocean County for about 18 years earlier than heading to Bangor in September 2025 for a brand new job.
“He couldn’t discover employment in New Jersey,” his shut buddy claimed. “I’m unsure what was happening, I suppose issues fell aside up there [in Bangor].”
Lanzim’s buddy spoke with him simply days earlier than the incident.
“I had messaged him and requested him if he was okay. He mentioned no. I mentioned, ‘does it need to do with the child’s mom?’ And he mentioned sure,” the person mentioned.
“I requested, ‘you want me to name you?’ and he was like, ‘I’m okay, I’m simply at Applebee’s looking for the underside of the glass proper now.’”
The subsequent time he heard Lanzim’s identify was when he made headlines for the alleged horrors.
“I hope that child [Lanzim] will get the assistance he wants,” the buddy mentioned. “Brian generally doesn’t act like an grownup, and the place he’s now and the place he’s going to be going, he has no selection however to. I might say man up.”
Lanzim’s legal professional didn’t reply to a request for remark.
