Man Shoots Moving Car; Nearby Elementary School Locks Down: Prosecutor

WOODBURY, NJ — A man was hospitalized Wednesday afternoon after a shooting that prompted a nearby elementary school to lock down in Woodbury, authorities said.

The suspect — Jasheir T. Hawkins, 19, of Penns Grove — fired his weapon at a vehicle with two people inside, according to the Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office. He was arrested later in Mount Ephraim.

The shooting unfolded around 3:30 p.m. near an apartment complex on North Evergreen Avenue, officials said.

One of them victims — identified by prosecutors as "Victim-1" — was shot in the neck while driving. His passenger, "Victim-2," was unhurt.

Earlier that day, Hawkins and Victim-2 got into a physical altercation at the Woodlake Apartments, authorities said.

Afterward, the victims entered a blue sedan to drive to Victim-1's home. Hawkins ran into the woods behind the complex and fired at the car as the victims approached their destination, authorities said.

Victim-1 was shot in the neck while driving, authorities said. He ducked into the backseat as Victim-2 drove him to a local hospital. The shooting victim's condition wasn't immediately available.

Security footage showed the vehicle, which was struck by gunfire, still running in front of the hospital as the driver fled on foot, authorities said.

A 911 caller provided a description of the suspect, who was later identified as Hawkins.

The shooting occurred down the street from Evergreen Avenue Elementary School. A lockdown was initiated for after-school activities after law enforcement advised that the suspect may have ran through the parking lot while fleeing the scene, said Woodbury Schools Superintendent Andrew T. Bell, Sr.

The lockdown was implemented out of an abundance of caution, Bell said in a letter to the district community.

Hawkins was charged with two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of second-degree weapons offenses.

He was jailed in the Salem County Correctional Facility, police said. The facility provides jailing services for Gloucester County.

Attorney information for Hawkins wasn't immediately available in online court records.

The investigation remains ongoing. Any witnesses with information can contact Woodbury Police Det. Corrine Byerley at 856-443-3146 or cbyerley@woodburypd.com.