Alleged Killer Of Asbury Park Boy, 10, Is Caught; School Lockdown

A 16-year old boy was arrested and charged Thursday for his role in the shooting death of a child and wounding of the victim’s mother, announced Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni.

The juvenile was arrested at Neptune High School Thursday morning without incident. The Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office alerted both the school and the district to the impending arrest. Because of school protocols, Neptune High School was briefly locked down following the arrest, according to the MCPO.

Asbury Park police responded to a 911 call around 10:40 p.m. on Wednesday reporting shots fired at a home in the 400 block of Ridge Avenue in Asbury Park. Police arrived to find the 10-year old child and his 39-year old mother had been struck with gunshot wounds. The child’s mother was treated and released for her injuries. However, the child was pronounced dead at 11:18 p.m.

The joint investigation is being conducted by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office and the Asbury Park Police Department, with assistance from Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office and Neptune Township Police Department.

The investigation has determined that neither the 10-year old child nor his mother were the intended victims of this shooting. The intended target was an adult male also present within the home, according to the MCPO.

The juvenile, who was not identified, was charged with murder, conspiracy to commit murder, aggravated assault, unlawful possession of a weapon, and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to call Detective Brian Weisbrot of the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office at 800-533-7443 or Detective Sean DeShader of the Asbury Park Police Department at 732-774-1300.

Anyone who feels the need to remain anonymous but has information about a crime can contact Monmouth County Crime Stoppers confidential telephone tip-line by calling 1-800-671-4400; can text “MONMOUTH” plus their tip to 274637; or, they can email a tip via the website at www.monmouthcountycrimestoppers.com. Monmouth County Crime Stoppers will pay up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest of criminals and fugitives.

The scene was blocked off by police on Thursday as detectives inspected the facade of a multi-family home, looking for bullet entry points, CBS2’s Magdalena Doris reported. Evidence markers were also scattered the street.

Medics can be heard trying to save the child in a 911 call, as reported by CBS2: “Transporting Jersey shore medics on board. Notify trauma, 10-year-old gunshot victim unresponsive. CPR in progress.”

Here is more on the shooting and the 911 call:

YouTube video and photos courtesy of CBS2