Ocean County County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer and Brick Township Chief of Police James Riccio announced today that a 17-year-old male juvenile has been taken into custody in connection with the shooting that occurred in Brick Township near Lanes Mills Road on Tuesday.
Police say the juvenile is accused of four counts of Attempted Murder in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:5-1 and 2C:11-3a; Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4a; and Unlawful Possession of a Weapon in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5b.
According to Ocean County officials, at approximately 1:45 p.m., Brick Township Police were summoned to Brick Memorial High School for a report of a student who had sustained a gunshot wound.
Investigation revealed that the student was walking home from school with three friends when he was shot approximately one-quarter mile away from Brick Memorial; he then ran back to the school for help.
As a precaution, Brick Township Police and school officials locked down the high school as well as neighboring schools before determining there was no immediate danger to students.
The victim was treated at Ocean Medical Center in Brick Township and released.
An investigation by Detectives from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office High Tech Crime Unit, Brick Township Police Department and the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department yielded video surveillance footage from nearby residences. During the evening hours on Wednesday, October 23, 2019, a no-knock search warrant was executed in Asbury Park by members of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, Brick Township Police Department, Ocean County Sheriff’s Office, and the Monmouth County Emergency Response Team; as a result, the juvenile suspect was taken into custody and transported to Brick Township Police Headquarters. The juvenile suspect is presently lodged in the Ocean County Juvenile Detention Center.
Prosecutor Billhimer and Chief Riccio would like to commend the tremendous efforts of all of the law enforcement agencies involved in this very thorough and swift investigation: Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit; Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office High Tech Crime Unit; Brick Township Police Department; Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit; Ocean County Sheriff’s Office; Toms River Township Police Department; Lakewood Township Police Department; Bay Head Borough Police Department; Point Pleasant Beach Police Department; Asbury Park Police Department; Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit; Monmouth County Emergency Response Team; Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office; New Jersey State Police; and New Jersey State Police Regional
Operations and Intelligence Center.
“Were it not for the collective resolve, determination, and good old- fashioned police-work displayed by all the law enforcement personnel involved in this investigation, this subject would not have been brought into custody in such a prompt and expeditious manner,” stated Prosecutor Billhimer. Prosecutor Billhimer added:
“Chief Riccio and I are extremely grateful for the team- work exhibited by law enforcement agencies in both Ocean and Monmouth Counties.
This collaboration will continue as we strive to make our streets and communities safer for our families and our children. We will not let this wanton disregard for the welfare and safety of our communities to become commonplace.”