4 Shot In Lakewood: Police Seeking Witnesses, Information

LAKEWOOD, NJ -- Lakewood police are still sorting out the circumstances and searching for suspects after four people were shot at a gathering at the Brook Road Sports Complex Saturday night, police said Sunday morning.

Three people were arrested during the initial investigation into the shooting, including one who had a firearm, but no one has been charged in connection with the shooting, Detective Lt. Gregory Staffordsmith said.

Staffordsmith said all four people who were shot -- a 30-year-old Lakewood woman, a 28-year old Englishtown man and two men from Lakewood, ages 53 and 24 -- are expected to survive. The woman and the 53-year-old man were transferred to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, he said, while the Englishtown man and the 24-year-old are being treated at Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus in Lakewood. The woman was shot in the abdomen, Staffordsmith said, and all three men suffered gunshot wounds to the leg, he said.

Police were called to the gathering at the Brook Road Sports Complex about 9:40 p.m. after receiving a phone call from a woman who said she was taking a gunshot victim to the hospital, Staffordsmith said.

The unidentified caller did not provide any additional information, he said, but as police were en route, personnel from Monmouth Medical Southern Campus called and told them several gunshot victims had just been dropped off.

Police officers who arrived at the sports complex found the Englishtown man with a gunshot wound to his leg and Lakewood EMS took him to the hospital while officers continued their investigation, Staffordsmith said.

Meanwhile, police officers arriving at the hospital observed a small crowd of partygoers in the emergency room lobby and learned the identities of the woman and the other two men and their injuries, he said. Police did not release the victims' names.

In addition, a vehicle believed to have transported at least one of the victims was left abandoned in front of the Emergency Room, Staffordsmith said. Further investigation resulted in the recovery of a firearm, he said.

Officers at the park began questioning those present to locate potential witnesses, he said, resulting in the arrests of three people. Jahquan Fenn, 25, of Lakewood, a passenger in a vehicle that was trying to leave the scene, was arrested after officers discovered a firearm he was trying to hide under his leg. Donaysha Peace, 21, of Waretown and Sanaya Smuoone, 20, of Lakewood were both charged with the possession of a controlled dangerous substance, Staffordsmith said.

Another firearm was found on the ground between two parked cars, he said.

No one has been charged with that at this time, Staffordsmith said.

Assisting with the investigation are the Monmouth Medical Southern Campus Hospital Office of Security and the Ocean County Sheriff's Department Crime Scene Investigation and K9 Units. Additional support was received from both the Howell Township and Jackson Township police departments, he said.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Detective Oscar Valmon at 732-363-0200 ext. 5347, he said.

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