New Details Released In Shooting At Neptune Twp. QuickChek

NEPTUNE, NJ — The Monmouth County Prosecutor released new information about the shooting Monday near the Asbury circle on Rt. 35.

The shooting took place in the parking lot of the QuickChek located near the circle. A woman was shot: Police say Jaiden V. Edwards, 21, of Keansburg, fired a gun at a woman, hitting her twice. She survived the shooting.

At 5:43 p.m., Neptune Township Police were called to Rt. 35 south for a report of shots fired. Shortly thereafter, Neptune Police located an erratic driver on Neptune Boulevard that appeared to be en route to Jersey Shore University Medical Center.

The car arrived at the hospital and a man, the driver, and a woman, a passenger, got out of the vehicle. The woman had been shot twice: She sustained a through-and-through gunshot wound to her shoulder and a gunshot wound that grazed her lip.

Neptune Township Police later located two spent shell casings in the area of the shooting.

A review of surveillance footage at the QuickChek showed the woman's vehicle, a silver Honda, backed into a parking stall in the QuickChek parking lot.

A black Nissan Sentra then entered the parking lot and stopped near her car. Four individuals exited the Nissan Sentra, one of which was Edwards.

The four men walked towards the woman's car and appeared to attempt to confront her and/or get her out of the vehicle, according to a police affidavit. She did not.

As her car began to leave the parking lot, Edwards produced a handgun and fired one round in the direction of the woman's car, said police.

She was hit twice, once in the shoulder and another in her lip.

Police interviewed the other men in the car who said one of the men had a dispute with the woman and they went to the QuickChek that evening to "confront her." Several of the men told police they did not know Edwards had a gun.

The prosecutor did not reveal what the dispute was over.

Edwards was charged with one count of first-degree attempted murder, plus illegal weapons offenses.

This case was investigated by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes, plus the prosecutor's Gang Unit, and Neptune Twp. Police.

Anyone with information is urged to contact MCPO Detective Joshua Rios of the Major Crimes Bureau at 800-533-7443 or Neptune Township Police Department Detective Owen Rosenthal at 732-988-8000 ext. 420.

Man Shot Woman Near Asbury Circle, Police Say (June 23)