Two individuals who were allegedly involved in a road rage incident that culminated with a non-fatal shooting in January have been arrested and charged, Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Lori Linskey announced on Feb. 17.
Keyshawn J. Palmer, 29, of Freehold Township, and Chyna R. Edwards, 22, of Tinton Falls, are both charged with first degree attempted murder, first degree conspiracy to commit attempted murder, and two related second degree weapons offenses.
Palmer is also charged with fourth degree certain persons not to possess a firearm, while Edwards is additionally charged with second degree aggravated assault.
According to a press release from the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, shortly after 11 p.m. Jan. 14, members of the Ocean Township Police Department responded to the area of Wickapecko Drive and Sunset Avenue to investigate a report of a discharged firearm.
At that location, the officers encountered an adult female who reported that an adult male acquaintance had been shot in the leg moments earlier and was en route to a local hospital for treatment.
An investigation involving members of the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Bureau and the Ocean Township Police Department revealed the incident began on Route 35 in Eatontown when the female inadvertently cut off a vehicle being driven by Edwards, with Palmer in the passenger seat.
Edwards then allegedly followed the woman through several municipalities before colliding with her vehicle not far from the scene of the shooting.
The male who was eventually shot, having been contacted by the female, arrived in the area moments later, prompting a verbal dispute, at which time Palmer allegedly fired a handgun at him, striking him in the leg. Palmer and Edwards subsequently fled the scene.
The investigation ultimately led to Palmer and Edwards being identified as suspects in the case and they turned themselves in to authorities without incident on Feb. 15.
Palmer and Edwards were placed in the Monmouth County jail, Freehold Township, to await a first appearance and detention hearing to take place in state Superior Court, according to the press release.
A search of the vehicle being driven by Edwards on the night of the incident, a Nissan Sentra, produced a .380-caliber handgun.
The prosecutor’s office and the Ocean Township Police Department thanked the members of the U.S. Marshals Service, the Freehold Borough Police Department and the Freehold Township Police Department who assisted in the investigation, according to the press release.
Convictions on first degree criminal charges are commonly punishable by terms
of 10 to 20 years in state prison.
