Investigation continues after teen was shot near Brick Memorial High School
We know more about shots fired outside of Brick Memorial High School on Tuesday afternoon that injured a 16-year old boy and put schools in a shelter in place situation while law enforcement confirmed the incident was not a school related shooting.
Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer and Brick Police Chief James Riccio said that Brick Police Officers, who were in the area, responded at 1:47 pm to Brick Memorial High School in reference to a report from a school crossing guard of shots fired in the vicinity of the school.
A school resource officer was present in the school at the time.
The school then instituted lock-down procedures during police response and officers entered to begin helping clear the school.
Police officers on scene were notified that there was an injured male, 16-years-old, bleeding from the arm in the school gym.
Tactical Medics responded and began treating the victim who was then transported to Ocean Medical Center for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.
The victim, who police did not publicly identify, suffered a grazing wound and was met at the hospital by his parents, police said.
He has since been released from the hospital.
The preliminary investigation revealed that the victim was injured approximately one quarter mile from the school and ran into the school gym.
As a precaution, area schools were placed on lock-down.
Students from Brick Memorial High School were transported to Veteran’s Memorial Middle School and were released to their parents.
The last class at Brick Memorial ended at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday but after-school classes and activities continued.
School officials said that students who left behind their belongings during the evacuation will be able to retrieve them Wednesday morning.
“It’s important for everyone to know this was not a school shooting. 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,” Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said. “This is an active, ongoing investigation."
“I’d like to commend the students, teachers and administration from all of the schools involved. Everyone from the bus drivers to the custodians were calm and cooperative. We are currently investigating all leads and whether or not this incident is related to Saturday’s incident,” Brick Police Chief James Riccio said.
The incident Chief Riccio is referring to involves Jaquill Johnson, 18, who was was shot in the right leg in what Brick police called a drive-by shooting.
Johnson was taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center to be treated for non-life threatening injuries.
The Tuesday afternoon shooting incident is an ongoing investigation between the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit, Brick Township Police Department and the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Brick Detective Dan Waleski at 732-262-1170 or Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Detective Denis Mitchell at 732-929-2027.
Prosecutor Billhimer and Chief Riccio thank the Brick Township Police Department, the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit, the New Jersey State Police, Ocean County Sheriff’s Office, Toms River Police Department, Lakewood Police Department, Bay Head Police Department, Monmouth County Sheriff's Department, Lakewood EMS, and MONOC for their coordinated assistance in this matter.
Previous reporting by Sergio Bichao, Dan Alexander and Jen Ursillo was used in this article.
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