Shooting Near BMHS: Police ‘Following Leads Well Into the Night,’ No Arrests Yet

Police block off Lanes Mill Road near Brick Memorial High School, Oct. 22, 2019. (Photo: Daniel Nee)

Investigators will be “following leads well into the night” and interviewing witnesses as they continue to probe a shooting Tuesday afternoon near Brick Township Memorial High School.

A few more details on the incident were released in a joint statement issued by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office and Brick police at about 8:30 p.m. Tuesday night, however contrary to some previous reports, there have not been any arrests made in the case.

The statement largely follows the information released by Brick police earlier with several more details. At 1:47 p.m., a school crossing guard called police with report of shots fired in the vicinity of the school. A school resource officer – a full-time Brick police officer assigned to the school – was on scene at the time. Several additional Brick Township police officers were in the area and responded to the school as well.

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Officers entered to begin clearing the school. Police officers on scene were notified that there was an injured 16-year-old male, bleeding from the arm in the school gym. Tactical medics responded and began treating the victim, according to the statement. The victim was transported to Ocean Medical Center and is expected to make a full recovery.

The investigation that was initiated immediately after the shooting revealed that the victim was injured approximately one quarter mile from the school and ran into the school gym. A source said the shooting occurred near the intersection of Lanes Mill Road and New York Avenue.

The school instituted lockdown procedures during police response, the statement said.

“It’s important for everyone to know this was not a school shooting,” said Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer. “The response from law enforcement was swift and professional during a time of great concern. Detectives from my office, Brick PD and the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office will be interviewing witnesses and following leads well into the night.”

“This is an active, ongoing investigation,” Billhimer added.

Police Chief Jim Riccio said detectives were investigating whether the shooting was linked to a previous shooting that occurred in the nearby Briar Mills condominium complex over the weekend. But the chief mainly emphasized the cooperation of several agencies in the large response to the call.

“I’d like to commend the students, teachers and administration from all of the schools involved,” Riccio said. “Everyone from the bus drivers to the custodians were calm and cooperative.”

The investigation is being conducted jointly by Brick police, the prosecutor’s office and the county sheriff’s department.

Anyone with information is being urged to contact Brick Police Detective Dan Waleski at 732-262-1170 or Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Detective Denis Mitchell at 732-929-2027.

The response to the call Tuesday afternoon also included New Jersey State Police, Ocean County Sheriff’s Office, the Toms River Police Department, Lakewood Police Department, Bay Head Police Department, Monmouth County Sheriff’s Department, Lakewood EMS, and MONOC paramedics.