Shooting leaves three wounded

By Walter J. O’Neill, Jr.

Long Branch — An early morning shooting on Saturday left three men injured. The police switchboard lit up just after 2 a.m. with reports of shots fired on Westwood Avenue, a residential area.   

According to Monmouth County Deputy First Assistant Prosecutor Richard Incremona, the three men were on a porch at 196 Westwood Avenue when shot. In situations like this, the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office becomes the lead investigating agency.

Local law enforcement officers have stated that the three victims did not suffer life threatening injuries. Unofficially, sources said that two men suffered grazing injuries while the third was shot in the leg.

Incremona stated that two men were taken to Monmouth Medical Center, while the third was transported to Jersey Shore Trauma Center in Neptune. That victim, according to police, is a Wall Township resident. The other two shooting victims had lived in Asbury Park but are currently Long Branch residents.

Unconfirmed reports say that the victims were shot with a 9mm type weapon. Police have not stated if bullet casings were found at the location or if anyone witnessed the shooting. Names of the victims are being withheld from the media; however police have stated they were between 17 and 21 years of age.

Just a few years ago, Long Branch Police and the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office investigated a murder two blocks away from the shooting. That murder, according to police involved a domestic dispute. The victim was a female immigrant from Brazil. Police have that incident listed as a cold case; the suspect supposedly fled to Brazil to avoid arrest.