TOMS RIVER, NJ — Four people are accused of helping a Toms River man sought in a fatal shooting at a Route 37 Wawa elude authorities, the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office said Friday.
As the search for Douglas C. Cobb, charged with murder in the slaying of Bruce Gress on Sept. 18, is entering its second week, the prosecutor's office said the four — Ronald Hagan, 50, of Brick Township; Sylvester Green, 43, of Bayville; Cherice Nicholson, 46, of Howell, and Jennifer Rizalvo, 48, of Lakewood — have helped him evade capture.
They als0 released a new photo of Cobb, pulled from the body camera recording of a police officer from an incident in June, Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said.
Green and Nicholson were arrested Thursday and are being held in the Ocean County Jail pending detention hearings, the prosecutor's office said, while Rizalvo was issued the charges on a summons and released to await court action.
Hagan is a fugitive and a warrant has been issued for his arrest, authorities said.
"During the course of the investigation into the whereabouts of Douglas Cobb, detectives determined that Hagan, Green, Nicholson, and Rizalvo each assisted Cobb in avoiding apprehension and/or provided false information to law enforcement," the prosecutor's office said.
"These arrests send a powerful message that anyone who intentionally aids Douglas Cobb evade law enforcement, will be held accountable and face consequences for their unlawful actions," Billhimer said. "We are working round-the-clock to apprehend Cobb so that he may be brought to justice for the killing of Bruce Gress."
Cobb is accused of shooting Gress after the two argued near the gas pumps at the Wawa at the corner of Route 37 and Garfield Avenue about 7:20 a.m. on Sept. 18.
Cobb had pulled up to the Wawa just before 7 a.m. Gress pulled in about 7:12 a.m. and as he started to pull away, Cobb pulled up alongside Gress's pickup truck, according to the probable cause affidavit.
Gress got out and argued with Cobb, who stayed in his car, a witness told authorities. When Gress got back in his pickup, Cobb shot him in the head, the witness said.
Cobb then took off and authorities have been searching for him since then. His cellphone last pinged in Howell, according to the affidavit.
Cobb, 51, also known as Douglas Green, who goes by the nickname "Bootknock," is about 5-foot-9 or 5-foot-10 with a muscular build, according to the affidavit, and had a goatee. He has tattoos on his arms.
He was last seen driving a black 2016 Acura MDX with New Jersey license plate T93YJL, Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said.
He has been charged with murder, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, unlawful possession of a weapon, and being a certain person not to possess a weapon, the prosecutor's office said.
Previous coverage:
Fatal Shooting At NJ Wawa Under Investigation, Prosecutor Says
Fugitive ID'd In Fatal Shooting At Wawa In Toms River, Prosecutor Says
Search For Suspect In Fatal Wawa Shooting At The Jersey Shore Continues
Victim Argued With Man Before Fatal Wawa Shooting At The Jersey Shore: Affidavit
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