A BURLINGTON GRAND JURY HAS RETURNED AN INDICTMENT AGAINST A FORMER COUNTY CORRECTIONS OFFICER IN A FATAL SHOOTING IN 2020
" Bruce Gornola Of Burlington Township, New Jersey Has Been Indicted For First Degree Murder & Aggravated Assault In Connection To Fatal Shooting At A South Jersey Medical Center."
July 10, 2021 By Art Fletcher Reporting For: Englebrook Independent News,
MOUNT HOLLY, NJ.- On Friday July 9, 2021, Burlington County Prosecutor Scott A. Coffina announced that a Grand Jury sitting in Burlington County, New Jersey has returned an Indictment against a Burlington Township Man, for Fatally Shooting an employee and wounding a patient inside a Mount Laurel Medical Office last summer.
A Burlington Grand Jury on Friday July 9, 2021, returned the Indictment against Bruce Gornola, 52, of Burlington Township, New Jersey. Charging Gornola with First Degree Murder; Second Degree Aggravated Assault; and Second Degree Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose.
The Indictment was signed by First Assistant Prosecutor Philip S. Aronow. An arraignment will be held in the upcoming weeks in Superior Court. Gornola was employed as a Corrections Officer at The Burlington County Jail in Mount Holly, New Jersey, at the time of his arrest. Gornala has been suspended without pay and is being held in a Detention Facility in Northern New Jersey.
Police were called to the 1500 Block of Midlantic Drive on the afternoon of July 24, 2021 for a report of a shooting inside the Delaware Urology Office. The investigation revealed that Gornola became upset while attempting to arrange an appointment for his father to be seen by a physician.
When Patient Services Representative Stephanie Horton attempted to discuss the situation with Gornola, he pulled a .40 Caliber Handgun and fired one shot into her chest. The bullet exited through her back and struck a female patient in the knee.
Gornola then left the building and drove away, but soon returned to the scene, and surrendered to Mount Laurel Detectives.
Horton, 44, of Willingboro, New Jersey was pronounced deceased at Cooper University Hospital in Camden, New Jersey. The other victim was treated at the same facility for non-life threatening injuries.
The investigation was conducted by The Mount Laurel Police Department and The Prosecutor's Office. Mr. Gornola is being prosecuted by Burlington County Assistant Prosecutor Bob Van Gilst.
" The Rules Of The Court Require Us To Include A Statement, Which States: The Charges Are Merely Accusations And The Defendant And Or Defendants Are Presumed Innocent Unless And Until Proven Guilty Beyond Reasonable Doubt."
FILED UNDER JULY 10, 2021: LAW, BURLINGTON: