Fatal Shooting Prompts Hookah Lounge Closure By Toms River Officials

TOMS RIVER, NJ — Toms River officials have revoked the certificate of occupancy for the hookah lounge that was the site of a fatal shooting early Saturday, the town announced Monday evening.

In addition, the business owner and property owner have been fined $4,500 and a summons to appear in Toms River Municipal Court on Sept. 12, Hill said.

The revocation issued to Top Tier Hookah Lounge in the Silverton Shopping Center was for multiple zoning, safety and code violations, Mayor Maurice B. Hill said. Bright red violation stickers were in place on the doors and windows of the shop Monday evening.

The lounge had been closed since the shooting early Saturday that killed a 25-year-old man and wounded two others, one of whom remained in critical condition as of Monday.

Hill said the township's quality of life task force had been investigating the lounge, which opened about six months ago, after multiple complaints about activities at the business. The task force had found several violations previously and told the business owners to bring the lounge into compliance.

"Those instructions were ignored," Hill said.

The investigation into Saturday's shooting confirmed the business owners were operating in violation of their approved status as a retail-only establishment, Hill said, and that they "likely made false or misleading statements on their zoning application."

"As a result their certificate of occupancy has been revoked today and they are no longer permitted to operate or do business at 1783 Hooper Ave in the Silverton section of the Township," Hill said.

Top Tier Hookah advertised itself as "a classy, elegant, unique vibe rooted in the Jersey Shore ... with top-of-the-line shisha, exceptional service and great music" along with telling patrons to bring their own alcohol. "Shisha" is the flavored tobacco that is smoked in communual "hookah" pipes.

Authorities have not identified the man who was killed, but a report by News 12 New Jersey said family members held a vigil for the man on Monday evening to demand justice for the man, who they said was a devoted father to his five children.

A 29-year-old man was hospitalized in critical condition, and a second 25-year-old man was treated and released, authorities said.

Anyone with information regarding the shooting is asked to contact Detective Denis Mitchell of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office at 732-929-2027, or Detective Jennifer Grob of the Toms River Police Department at 732-349-0150, authorities said.