Employee killed, patient wounded in shooting at Mount Laurel medical facility; alleged gunman in custody

A Burlington Township man who works as a corrections officer was charged with murder and related offenses for a shooting at a Mount Laurel medical office on Friday that left an employee dead and a patient wounded, authorities said.

Bruce Gomola Jr., 51, of Kingsbridge Drive, allegedly became upset about an appointment for his father at Delaware Valley Urology, 15000 Midlantic Dr., about 12:50 p.m. and shot the employee, Stephanie Horton, 44, of Willingboro, in the chest with a .40-caliber pistol.

The bullet went through her body and struck the patient in a knee, the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office said in a news release late Friday.

Gomola then left the building and drove away, but returned to the scene and surrendered to a Mount Laurel police detective, the Prosecutor’s Office said. The medical office is located near the Mount Laurel Police Department.

Horton was pronounced dead at 4:18 p.m. at Cooper University Hospital in Camden. She worked as a patient services representative. The other victim, who is in her 50s, was treated at Cooper for non-life-threatening injuries.

Gomola, who is employed at the Burlington County Jail, was being held at the Camden County Correctional Facility pending his first court appearance. He was charged with first-degree murder, second-degree aggravated assault, and second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose.

The Prosecutor’s Office was preparing his case for presentation to a grand jury for possible indictment. The case remained under investigation by the Prosecutor’s Office and police.