Dad of NJIT victim: Like 'knife in the abdomen'
Son had fought back against robbers, father says
FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP – John Micalizzi often called his only son to check in on him. Joseph Micalizzi was studying at New Jersey Institute of Technology in Newark to be an engineer; Joseph hoped one day to be in management, .
So on Sunday evening, like he had so many other evenings before, John Micalizzi called his son. He liked to make sure Joseph was safe.
"Unfortunately, he wasn't that night," John Micalizzi said.
Hours after what would be the Micalizzis' last chat, Joseph, 23, was fatally shot at the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity house near New Jersey Institute of Technology about 3:30 a.m. Monday.
READ: Freehold native killed in burglary at NJIT frat
His father said he heard from police that his son was killed after he tried to fight men who broke into the fraternity house. His son's reaction, he said, was typical of the boy he loved.
"He was a standup kid and nobody could push him around," John said. "That's how he was."
John Micalizzi didn't learn anything was wrong until later that morning. . He got a call from his wife. She was worried about Joseph -- she saw something on the news; she wasn't sure if Joseph was involved. She passed along the number of a man who had called her.
John Micalizzi called the number. It was a school official who told him his son had been shot.
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Immediately, John left his job as an aircraft technician at Newark Liberty International Airport, and rushed to find his son at University Hospital.
But his boy was dead.
“It’s like somebody stuck a knife in my abdomen," John said. "And that’s how it feels. It's unbelievable. It's surreal.”
John described Joseph as a hardworking kid. He recalled how his son played trumpet in the marching band and jazz band at Howell Middle School North. He recalled his son wrestling in middle school and high school.
Joseph graduated from Howell High School in 2011. He was in his second year at NJIT studying mechanical engineering after transferring from Brookdale Community College. He made the honor roll in high school and college. John said Joseph recently took management courses and he aspired to get his master's degree and a management position in engineering.
READ: Arrest in killing of Toms River Rutgers student
Occasionally, Joseph would go to dance or see a show in Atlantic City, John said. But Joseph didn't have much time for leisure. John said he went to a motorcycle race Saturday, but Joseph couldn't join him because he was studying for his finals.
“He’s just a great kid," John said. "Just a great kid. Unbelievable. The earth lost an angel, believe me. He’s somebody who would have contributed to society."
The robbery comes less than one month after Rutgers-Newark student and Toms River native Shani Patel, 21, was killed in his Central Avenue apartment, just three blocks away from the TKE house.
The Essex County Prosecutor's Office released no information Tuesday on Micalizzi's killing.
“There is no new information right now," spokeswoman Katherine Carter said.
Gov. Chris Christie spoke about the killing during a Tuesday tour of the university.
WATCH: Toms River man killed in shooting near Rutgers
"The murder of Joe Micalizzi at 23 years old is an extraordinary tragedy, not only for this university’s community but also for us as a state and for me as a father," the governor said.
"For those of you who know this family personally I’d urge you not — it’s always an awkward thing, but don’t stay away, move forward, embrace them," Christie said. "And as parents, let them know how much you feel their pain. It will help; I guarantee it will help."
As Christie offered his condolences to the family of Joseph Micalizzi, his mother and father spoke to the police, went to a funeral home to make arrangements, and looked at burial plots.
Andrew Ford: 732-643-4281; aford3@gannettnj.com