Freehold Man Dies From Gunshot; Another Guest Is Charged

FREEHOLD, N.J. — A borough man has been charged with reckless manslaughter in connection with a fatal shooting Sunday night in town, Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Lori Linskey said.

Efrain Cruz Jr., 45, was charged with second-degree manslaughter after a firearm discharged, striking another man during a small gathering, the prosecutor's office said.

Freehold police were sent to the 20 block of McDermott Street about 8:32 p.m. on a report of a gunshot victim, according to a news release from the office.

Police discovered a man with a single gunshot wound. He was taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, where he was later pronounced dead, the prosecutor said. Authorities have not yet identified the victim.

Cruz is being held at the Monmouth County Correctional Institute pending a detention hearing before Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Marc C. Lemieux on Friday. Cruz is represented by Tara Breslow of Freehold.

The investigation was continuing, the prosecutor's office said.

Anyone with information regarding the case is asked to contact Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Detective Brian Hammarstrom at 800-533-7443 or Freehold Borough Detective Samuel Hernandez at 732-462-1233.

The case is assigned to Monmouth County Assistant Prosecutor Michael Luciano.