Man Revealed Handgun While Shoplifting At South Jersey Target: Police

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP, NJ — A shoplifting incident at a Target in South Jersey generated a large police presence Monday morning after the suspect revealed a handgun, according to Washington Township police.

Officers went to Target in Turnersville at 9:28 a.m. for a reported shoplifting in progress. The store's loss-prevention personnel told police that the suspect revealed a Colt handgun after they stopped him.

When police arrived, they found the suspect — later identified as Joel Fry, of Franklinville — pushing a shopping cart in the store. Officers searched Fry and found a silver and black CO2 BB handgun, according to the township police department.

Fry was charged with terroristic threats, possession of a weapon for unlawful purposes, handgun possession, certain persons not to have weapons, shoplifting and possession of a controlled dangerous substance. He was placed in the Gloucester County Jail.