On January 5,the Toms River Police Dispatch center received several phone calls from people who believed they heard a gunshot. Officers responded to the parking lot of Winteringham Village, located on Route 166, at 3:09 pm. They searched the area and found several people who say they heard a shot. No evidence or suspects were located at the complex.
A short time later a 19 year old Toms River man arrived at Community Medical Center with a single gunshot wound to his shoulder. He stated to the investigating officers that he was in the parking lot of Winteringham Village earlier and was approached by a man brandishing a handgun. The man walked up to him as he stood next to his car and fired one shot in an apparent robbery attempt. The man then fled on foot. The victim was initially treated at Community Medical Center and was later transported to Jersey Shore Medical Center in Neptune. He remains at the hospital in stable condition with a non-life threatening injury.
“We are in the process of identifying a suspect or suspects and ask the public to contact us with any information that they may have.” The investigation is being led by Detective Roger Hull with the assistance of the entire Toms River Criminal Investigation Bureau. Also providing assistance was the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department CSI division and Toms River Police Emergency Services Unit.
Detective Hull can be reached at 732-349-0150 extension 1291.
Correction: Photo showed Emerald Apartments incorrectly. Incident did not happen at Emerald Apartments.