Two males are in custody in connection to an early morning shooting that injured a township man in the chest after an alleged argument.
At approximately 1 a.m. this morning, the Barnegat Police Department was called to 379 N. Main Street in Barnegat for reports of a shooting.
Upon their arrival they found a resident of the home, a male, 24, had sustained a single gunshot wound to the chest. He was transported to Atlantic Care Hospital in Atlantic City to undergo surgery for the wound. At last check, he remains in critical, but stable condition.
Barnegat secured the scene and called in the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Major Crimes Unit and the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department to assist in the investigation. Once information on the alleged suspects was collected, it was radioed to surrounding law enforcement.
Within a short time Stafford Police Department made a motor vehicle stop and located a male, 18, from Virginia who was allegedly involved in the altercation.
As additional information was developed regarding the circumstances surrounding the shooting. The partnering agencies learned that two males were up from Virginia visiting a friend in Barnegat. The male detained in the Stafford motor vehicle stop and his acquaintance, still being identified, became involved in an argument with the victim that ended with the three parties separating. The two men from Virginia showed up later at the victim’s N. Main Street residence and allegedly shot him as he exited his home.
The second unidentified male was tracked to his friend’s home at Brook Street in Barnegat and apprehended by the Ocean County Regional SWAT team at approximately 8 am.
Preliminarily, it is believed the second male was the actual shooter.
The investigation continues into the motive and identifications of the involved parties. Charges are pending.