By Christine Barcia
Staff Writer
FREEHOLD – Multiple shootings that injured several individuals on the evening of Feb. 1 in Freehold Borough remain under investigation by police and the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office.
In response to an inquiry from the News Transcript about what occurred in a neighborhood off Center Street, a Freehold Borough official said he is not permitted to say much about what took place.
“The only thing I am allowed to say at this point is that it is still an ongoing investigation with our police department and the prosecutor’s office. I really can’t comment any more on the details of the incident. Police are working the case and will hopefully be able to get some breaks in the investigation as we proceed,” Borough Council President Jaye Sims said on Feb. 4.
Freehold Borough police officers responded to a report of a shooting at an abandoned residence on Ford Avenue shortly after 6:30 p.m. Feb. 1, according to Charles Webster, the public information officer with the prosecutor’s office.
Webster said that a 16-year-old male was exiting the home when he was struck by gunfire. Police did not provide a town of residence for the youth.
Shortly after the young man was hit, he and other individuals who had been in the abandoned home got into a vehicle and told the driver to take them to a hospital.
As that vehicle was heading to a hospital, a 911 call was placed. The origin of the 911 call was not reported by authorities.
Police officers and medical personnel located the vehicle and the teenager who had been shot. He was transported to a hospital, treated for minor injuries and released, Webster said.
Personnel from the prosecutor’s office and the Freehold Borough Police Department began investigating that incident.
At about 10:40 p.m., police were notified of a second shooting and responded to a home on Center Street.
The officers located a 21-year-old male from Freehold Borough who had been shot, Webster said. The man was taken by ambulance to a hospital for treatment of injuries that were not life-threatening, according to Webster.
At about 11 p.m., police learned that a 21-year-old male from Lakewood had entered an area hospital and told hospital personnel he had been shot.
Webster said on Feb. 3 that details as to when and where the Lakewood man was shot remained under investigation.
Freehold Borough Police Detective Sgt. Chris Colaner referred all questions regarding the Feb. 1 incidents to the prosecutor’s office.
