TOMS RIVER, NJ — A 20-year-old Toms River resident has pled guilty to aggravated assault and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose in connection with a shooting that occurred in June 2024.
Anthony Brown entered his guilty plea on January 21 before Judge David M. Fritch in Ocean County. At his sentencing on March 21, the state will recommend four years in New Jersey State Prison (NJSP) for the aggravated assault charge, and five years with a 42-month parole ineligibility for the weapons offense. The sentences are set to run concurrently.
The charges stem from a June 12, 2024, incident on Adams Avenue in Toms River. Police responded around 11:30 p.m. to reports of shots fired and found a 24-year-old man with a gunshot wound to his leg. The victim was treated at Jersey Shore University Medical Center and later released.
An investigation revealed that Brown retrieved a handgun from the residence and fired two shots at the victim’s vehicle, striking him before fleeing the scene. He was later apprehended nearby without incident and has been held at the Ocean County Jail since his arrest.
Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer praised the efforts of law enforcement and prosecutors for their swift work in securing Brown’s guilty plea and pending sentencing.