A former firefighter allegedly drove eight hours from Maine to New Jersey armed with guns, ammunition and a bulletproof vest intending to kill his ex-girlfriend's family after she ended their relationship, prosecutors said in court on Friday.
Brian J. Lanzim, 37, was ordered held in Ocean County Jail pending trial after Judge Pamela M. Snyder called the allegations “extremely concerning” and “extremely violent in nature.” Authorities say Lanzim drove from Bangor, Maine, to South Toms River on April 29 after learning his ex-girlfriend, the mother of his two children, had filed for a temporary restraining order against him.
“He was ready for war,” Assistant Prosecutor Mara Brater said during the hearing. “He armed himself with two firearms. He armed himself with a bulletproof vest. He had 15 large capacity magazines in his trunk.” Prosecutors allege Lanzim intended to kill or seriously harm his ex-girlfriend’s family to gain custody of their children.
According to prosecutors, Lanzim arrived at the Dover Road home shortly after 9:40 p.m. but the intended victims had already fled and called police. Lanzim drove his vehicle toward responding officers, who ordered him to stop and drop his weapon. When he refused, officers opened fire, striking him in the hand and pelvis. He was taken to hospital before being moved to the jail.
In court, Judge Snyder read alleged threats Lanzim made before arriving, including: “If your father is there I’m going to take him out” and “If you stand between me and my kids I’m going to do what I need to do.” Defense attorney Marissa Koerner argued Lanzim was suffering a severe mental health crisis triggered by the breakup and longstanding bipolar disorder, saying the incident “almost seemed like a death by suicide by cop.”
Lanzim, who spent 18 years as a firefighter and EMT in Ocean County, moved to Maine in September 2025 for a security job but lost it in March. He is charged with three counts of attempted murder, home invasion burglary, terroristic threats, unlawful use of body armour, weapons offences and 22 counts related to possession of large-capacity ammunition magazines.
