Former NJ Police Officer Pleads Guilty in Fatal DUI Crash

Gerald Veneziano, a 41-year-old former police officer, pleaded guilty on Jan. 6 to second-degree vehicular homicide and driving while intoxicated in the May 2023 crash that killed 19-year-old Northeastern University student Jacob Davis. The incident occurred in Morris County, New Jersey, where Veneziano was driving nearly double the speed limit under the influence of alcohol.

Davis, a behavioral neuroscience major on the pre-med track, was pronounced dead at the scene after Veneziano’s 2021 Chevrolet Silverado collided with his 2019 Mazda 3. Veneziano, who sustained serious injuries, admitted in court that he did not remember the crash but acknowledged his guilt based on evidence presented, including his blood alcohol content and excessive speed.

According to the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office, Veneziano was driving approximately 90 mph in a 50 mph zone at the time of the collision. Police found multiple open alcohol containers near his vehicle. Under New Jersey’s No Early Release Act, Veneziano faces a recommended six-year prison sentence, with 85% of the term to be served before parole eligibility.

Veneziano, who previously served as a Fairfield police officer, also cited a brain injury from the crash and a prior head wound as factors affecting his memory. He will pay $8,961.23 in restitution to the Davis family and faces additional penalties, including license suspension and mandatory participation in an Intoxicated Driver Resource Center program.

Jacob Davis, who would have graduated in 2027, is remembered through the Jacob Davis Memorial Scholarship at Northeastern University, awarded to undergraduate students in the College of Science. Veneziano’s sentencing is scheduled for next month.