During an overnight shift at the Pathmark supermarket on Route 9 north in Old Bridge, there are typically three or four employees in the store, but about 12 employees were present in the early morning hours of Aug. 31, when an employee reportedly returned to the store and gunned down two employees, according to a union representing the workers. Extra personnel is provided on Thursday night into Friday morning to change prices on numerous items.
“The people working last night (overnight Aug. 30 into Aug. 31) don’t typically work nights except for two or three people,” said Cynthia McCarthy, director of communications for Local 1262 of the United Food and Commercial Workers, which represents Pathmark employees.
Grief counseling was being provided by Local 1262 to employees who were in the store at the time of the shooting. The union was on site shortly after the tragedy to arrange for services for all 66 union members employed at the store.
“All of us here at Local 1262 are deeply saddened by the shooting and deaths of our young members at the Pathmark in Old Bridge,” said Harvey Whille, president of the union.
According to McCarthy, counselors are working with employees as a group to discuss what happened, to provide grief informational sheets and to make referrals to therapists and counselors if necessary.
“[The counselor] is going to be the first link in that regard and provide them with a link for follow-up for when they need to talk to someone,” McCarthy said.
She added that the counselor would be available in the days ahead for the other store employees.
Pathmark issued a statement through spokeswoman Joanne Fischetti indicating that the company was “terribly saddened” by the incident in Old Bridge.
“We express our deepest sympathies to the families of the victims and our appreciation to local law enforcement. Our main concern is the safety of our associates and customers. We continue to work with local authorities during the investigation. At this time, we cannot comment on the ongoing police investigation regarding the incident.”
Old Bridge Chamber of Commerce Chairman Reggie Butler, who is also a member of the Old Bridge Township Council, said the chamber would be reaching out to Pathmark and all other businesses in the shopping plaza, but could not give specifics as to what that would entail.
“First we have to find out from the police when they are going to reopen the [plaza]. We are taking it step by step,” Butler said on Aug. 31.