Retired teacher kills wife, self, with nail gun

An Ocean County man drilled nails into his wife's head and chest with a construction nail gun before turning the tool on himself in what investigators are calling an apparent murder-suicide.

James. B. Tomkinson, 77, of Stafford Township, was pronounced dead this morning at the AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center, where he was being treated for head and chest injuries he inflicted on himself, according to township police and the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office.

The day before, Tomkinson, a retired school teacher, killed his wife, Susan, 76, with the nail gun, inflicting fatal head and chest injuries, while in their Cutlass Avenue home, police said. Police were summoned to the scene after a relative discovered the couple and called 911, Lt. Thomas Dellane said.

The motive is still under investigation. Dellane said there were no prior police calls to the house.