Robert and Patricia Novak's residence was visited by Edison police shortly after 2:00 p.m. on Friday, following a complaint of an unintentional shooting.
Patricia Novak, 76, was discovered by police to have only one gunshot wound. She was brought to
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, where doctors pronounced her dead.
Robert Novak, 82, Patricia Novak's husband, was trying to clear one of his registered firearms from the first floor of the house when it went off, according to an early police inquiry.
According to officials, the weapon round entered the basement and wounded his spouse.