Police block off Lanes Mill Road near Brick Memorial High School, Oct. 22, 2019. (Photo: Daniel Nee)
Brick police say a shooting occurred near Brick Township Memorial High School Tuesday, leaving one person with a graze wound, streets blocked off, SWAT teams deployed and multiple schools locked down.
Police were called to the school at 1:47 p.m., said Sgt. Jim Kelly. School Resource Officer Timothy McCarthy was on scene already and officers in the area responded immediately, he said. The school was checked and is in the process of being cleared. A source from inside BMHS said teachers and staff were led by members of a SWAT team to a secure location.
According to Kelly, the shooting did not occur inside the school. A second source said the shooting occurred near the intersection of Lanes Mill Road and New York Avenue. The victim, described by the source as a young black male, was grazed by a bullet and and ran into the school for help. Kelly said the victim’s parents were at the hospital with the victim. The source said the victim was grazed in the shoulder area.
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Police block off Lanes Mill Road near Brick Memorial High School, Oct. 22, 2019. (Photo: Daniel Nee)
“The scene is secure and schools are on lockdown,” said Kelly. “More information will be released as it becomes available.”
The area near the high school was shut down by police, with both Lanes Mill and Sally Ike roads blocked to traffic. Some parents gathered near police barricades, seeking information, and Lanes Mill Elementary School – just yards away from the high school – was locked down with students inside.
“The scene is secure, and surrounding schools are locked down until we can safely remove all students and staff,” the police department posted on social media.
Toms River police officers stage in the Stop and Shop supermarket in Brick. Photo: Supplied
Both Brick and Toms River police were on scene. A witness told Shorebeat that a large number of Toms River police vehicles were staging near the Stop ‘N Shop supermarket – on the other side of town – and putting on SWAT-style equipment.
At 3:25 p.m., an Ocean County Sheriff’s Department SUV was seen racing to the scene, down Lanes Mill Road.
“Please do your best to keep our phone lines clear,” the department asked.
Police were planning a 4:15 p.m. press conference where it was expected that more information would be shared.
